All Topics  
Mucous membrane

 

 
   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link
 

 

Mucous membrane
 
 
  Topics Mucous membrane Topic Home

The mucous membranes (or mucosae; singular mucosa) are linings of mostly endodermal
Germ layer

A germ layer is a group of cell s, formed during animal embryogenesis. Germ layers are particularly pronounced in the vertebrates; however, all animals more complex than sea sponge produce two or three primary tissue layers ....
 origin, covered in epithelium
Epithelium

In biology and medicine, epithelium is a Biological tissue composed of cell s that line the cavities and surfaces of structures throughout the body....
, which are involved in absorption and secretion
Secretion

Secretion is the process of, elaborating and releasing Chemical compound from a cell , or a secreted chemical substance or amount of substance. In contrast to excretion, the substance may have a certain function, rather than being a waste product....
. They line various body cavities that are exposed to the external environment and internal organs
Organ (anatomy)

In biology, an organ is a biological tissue that performs a specific function or group of functions. Usually there is a main tissue and sporadic tissues....
. It is at several places continuous with skin
Skin

The skin is the outer covering of the body, also known as the epidermis. It is the largest organ of the integumentary system made up of multiple layers of epithelial biological tissue, and guards the underlying muscles, bones, ligaments and organ s....
: at the nostril
Nostril

A nostril is one of the two channels of the nose, from the point where they bifurcate to the external opening. In birds and mammals, they contain branched bones or cartilages called turbinates, whose function is to warm air on inhalation and remove moisture on exhalation....
s, the lip
Lip

Lips are a visible body part at the mouth of humans and many animals. Lips are soft, movable, and serve as the opening for food intake, as an erogenous organ used in kissing and other acts of intimacy, as a tactile sensory organ, and in the articulation of speech....
s, the ear
Ear

The ear is the sense organ that detects sounds. The vertebrate ear shows a common biology from fish to humans, with variations in structure according to order and species....
s, the genital area
Sex organ

A sex organ, or primary sexual characteristic, as narrowly defined, is any of the anatomical parts of the body which are involved in sexual reproduction and constitute the reproductive system in a complex organism; in mammals, these include:...
, and the anus
Anus

The anus is an opening at the opposite end of an animal's digestive tract from the mouth. Its function is to expel feces, unwanted semi-solid matter produced during digestion, which, depending on the type of animal, may be one or more of: matter which the animal cannot digest, such as coprolite ; food material after all the nutrients have b...
. The sticky, thick fluid secreted by the mucous membranes and gland is termed mucus
Mucus

In vertebrates, mucus is a slippery secretion produced by, and covering, mucous membranes. It is a viscous colloid containing antiseptic enzymes and immunoglobulins that serves to protect Epithelium in the respiratory,...
.






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Mucous membrane'
Start a new discussion about 'Mucous membrane'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


The mucous membranes (or mucosae; singular mucosa) are linings of mostly endodermal
Germ layer

A germ layer is a group of cell s, formed during animal embryogenesis. Germ layers are particularly pronounced in the vertebrates; however, all animals more complex than sea sponge produce two or three primary tissue layers ....
 origin, covered in epithelium
Epithelium

In biology and medicine, epithelium is a Biological tissue composed of cell s that line the cavities and surfaces of structures throughout the body....
, which are involved in absorption and secretion
Secretion

Secretion is the process of, elaborating and releasing Chemical compound from a cell , or a secreted chemical substance or amount of substance. In contrast to excretion, the substance may have a certain function, rather than being a waste product....
. They line various body cavities that are exposed to the external environment and internal organs
Organ (anatomy)

In biology, an organ is a biological tissue that performs a specific function or group of functions. Usually there is a main tissue and sporadic tissues....
. It is at several places continuous with skin
Skin

The skin is the outer covering of the body, also known as the epidermis. It is the largest organ of the integumentary system made up of multiple layers of epithelial biological tissue, and guards the underlying muscles, bones, ligaments and organ s....
: at the nostril
Nostril

A nostril is one of the two channels of the nose, from the point where they bifurcate to the external opening. In birds and mammals, they contain branched bones or cartilages called turbinates, whose function is to warm air on inhalation and remove moisture on exhalation....
s, the lip
Lip

Lips are a visible body part at the mouth of humans and many animals. Lips are soft, movable, and serve as the opening for food intake, as an erogenous organ used in kissing and other acts of intimacy, as a tactile sensory organ, and in the articulation of speech....
s, the ear
Ear

The ear is the sense organ that detects sounds. The vertebrate ear shows a common biology from fish to humans, with variations in structure according to order and species....
s, the genital area
Sex organ

A sex organ, or primary sexual characteristic, as narrowly defined, is any of the anatomical parts of the body which are involved in sexual reproduction and constitute the reproductive system in a complex organism; in mammals, these include:...
, and the anus
Anus

The anus is an opening at the opposite end of an animal's digestive tract from the mouth. Its function is to expel feces, unwanted semi-solid matter produced during digestion, which, depending on the type of animal, may be one or more of: matter which the animal cannot digest, such as coprolite ; food material after all the nutrients have b...
. The sticky, thick fluid secreted by the mucous membranes and gland is termed mucus
Mucus

In vertebrates, mucus is a slippery secretion produced by, and covering, mucous membranes. It is a viscous colloid containing antiseptic enzymes and immunoglobulins that serves to protect Epithelium in the respiratory,...
. The term mucous membrane refers to where they are found in the body
Body

With regard to organism, a body is the integral physical material of an individual. "Body" often is used in connection with appearance, health issues and death....
 and not every mucous membrane secretes mucus.

Body cavities featuring mucous membrane include most of the respiratory system
Respiratory system

A respiratory system?s function is to allow gas exchange. The space between the alveoli and the capillaries, the anatomy or structure of the exchange system, and the precise physiological uses of the exchanged gases vary depending on the organism....
. The glans penis
Glans penis

The glans penis is the sensitive bulbous structure at the distal end of the penis. It is also commonly referred to as the "head" of the penis. Slang terms include "helmet", "nob" , and "bell end", and all refer to its distinctive shape....
 (head of the penis
Penis

The penis is an external sex organ of certain biologically male organisms, in both vertebrates and invertebrates.The penis is a reproductive organ, technically an intromittent organ, and for Eutheria, additionally serves as the external organ of urination....
) and glans clitoridis and the inside of the prepuce
Prepuce

The prepuce is a retractable piece of skin which covers part of the genitals of primates and other mammals.* On a male, this covers the head of the penis ....
 (foreskin) and clitoral hood
Clitoral hood

In female human anatomy, the clitoral hood, , is a fold of skin that surrounds and protects the clitoral glans. It develops as part of the labia minora and is homology with the foreskin in male genitals....
 are mucous membranes; the urethra is also a mucous membrane. The secreted mucus traps the pathogens in the body, preventing any further activities of diseases.

Components

  • Epithelium
    Epithelium

    In biology and medicine, epithelium is a Biological tissue composed of cell s that line the cavities and surfaces of structures throughout the body....
  • Lamina propria
    Lamina propria

    The lamina propria is a constituent of the moist linings known as mucous membranes or mucosa, which line various tubes in the body .The lamina propria is a thin layer of areolar connective tissue which lies beneath the epithelium and together with the epithelium constitutes the mucosa....
  • Smooth muscle
    Smooth muscle

    Smooth muscle is a type of non-striated muscle, found within the tunica media layer of large and small arteries and veins, the urinary bladder, uterus, male and female reproductive tracts, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, the ciliary muscle, and iris of the eye....
    /Muscularis mucosa/ (GI tract)


Some examples of mucosa

  • Buccal mucosa
    Buccal mucosa

    Buccal mucosa is mucous membrane of the inside of the cheek. It is non-keratinised and is continuous with the mucosae of the soft palate, under surface of tongue and the floor of the mouth....
  • Esophageal mucosa
  • Gastric mucosa
    Gastric mucosa

    The gastric mucosa is the mucous membrane layer of the stomach which contains the glands and the gastric pits. In men it is about 1 mm thick and its surface is smooth, soft, and velvety....
  • Intestinal mucosa
  • Olfactory mucosa
    Olfactory mucosa

    The olfactory mucosa is an organ made up of the olfactory epithelium and the lamina propria, or mucus secreting glands, behind the epithelium. The mucus protects the olfactory epithelium and allows odors to dissolve so that they can be detected by olfactory receptor neurons....
  • Oral mucosa
    Oral mucosa

    The oral mucosa is the mucous membrane epithelium of the mouth. It can be divided into three categories.*Masticatory mucosa - keratin stratified squamous epithelium, found on the dorsum of the tongue, hard palate and attached gingiva....
  • Bronchial mucosa
  • Uterine mucosa
  • Endometrium
    Endometrium

    The endometrium is the inner membrane of the mammalian uterus....
     is the mucosa of the uterus
    Uterus

    The uterus is a major female hormone-responsive reproductive sex organ of most mammals, including humans. It is within the uterus that the fetus develops during gestation....


Additional images


See also

  • Mucin
    Mucin

    Mucins are a family of high molecular weight, heavily glycosylation proteins produced by many epithelial tissues in vertebrates. Although some mucins are cell membrane-bound due to the presence of a hydrophobic membrane-spanning domain that favors retention in the plasma membrane, most mucins are secretion onto mucosae or secreted to become...
  • Mucocutaneous boundary


External links

- "Mammal, whole system (LM, Low)"