Mucous membrane

Mucous membrane
Histological section taken from the gastric antrum, showing the mucosa of the stomach
Details
Identifiers
Latin	tunica mucosa
MeSH	D009092
TA98	A05.4.01.015 A05.3.01.029 A05.5.01.029 A05.6.01.009 A05.6.01.010 A05.7.01.006 A05.7.01.007 A05.8.02.009 A06.1.02.017 A06.2.09.019 A06.3.01.010 A06.4.02.029 A08.1.05.011 A08.2.01.007 A08.3.01.023 A09.1.02.013 A09.1.04.011 A09.2.03.012 A09.3.05.010 A09.3.06.004 A09.4.02.015 A09.4.02.020 A09.4.02.029 A15.3.02.083
Anatomical terminology

A mucous membrane (plural - mucosae or mucosas; singular - mucosa; Latin: tunica mucosa) is a lining of mostly endodermal origin. It consists of an epithelium and an underlying lamina propria of connective tissue. The membranes line some body cavities that are exposed to the external environment and some internal organs. They are at several places contiguous with skin: at the nostrils, the lips of the mouth, the eyelids, the ears, the genital area, and the anus.

In the female, the glans clitoridis and the clitoral hood, and in the male, the glans penis (the head of the penis) and the inner layer of the foreskin, all have a mucous membrane. The urethra is also lined with a mucous membrane. Some mucous membranes are involved with absorption and secretion. The thick fluid secreted by some mucous membranes and/or associated glands is termed mucus. The mucus can be protective.

Some examples of mucosae

• Bronchial mucosa and the lining of vocal folds
• Endometrium is the mucosa of the uterus
• Esophageal mucosa
• Gastric mucosa
• Intestinal mucosa
• Nasal mucosa
• Olfactory mucosa
• Oral mucosa
• Penile mucosa
• Vaginal mucosa

See also

• Mucin
• Mucociliary clearance
• Mucocutaneous boundary
• Mucosal immune system
• Alkaline mucus
• Rete pegs

External links

• Mucous+Membrane at the U.S. National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)