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Mucous membrane

Protective layer that lines the interior of hollow organs

Field	Value
Name	Mucous membrane
Latin	tunica mucosa
Image	Normal gastric mucosa intermed mag.jpg
Caption	Histological section taken from the pyloric antrum, showing the gastric mucosa

A mucous membrane or mucosa is a membrane that lines various cavities in the body of an organism and covers the surface of internal organs. It consists of one or more layers of epithelial cells overlying a layer of loose connective tissue known as the lamina propria. It is mostly of endodermal origin and is continuous with the skin at body openings such as the eyes, eyelids, ears, inside the nose, inside the mouth, lips, the genital areas, the urethral opening and the anus. Some mucous membranes secrete mucus, a thick protective fluid. The function of the membrane is to stop pathogens and dirt from entering the body and to prevent bodily tissues from becoming dehydrated.

Amphibians, fish, snails, slugs, and some other invertebrates also produce external mucus from their epidermis as protection against pathogens, to help in movement, and to line fish gills. Plants produce a similar substance called mucilage that is also produced by some microorganisms.

Structure

The mucosa is composed of one or more layers of epithelial cells that secrete mucus, and an underlying lamina propria of loose connective tissue. The type of cells and type of mucus secreted vary from organ to organ and each can differ along a given tract.

Mucous membranes line the digestive, respiratory and reproductive tracts and are the primary barrier between the external world and the interior of the body; in an adult human the total surface area of the mucosa is about 400 square meters while the surface area of the skin is about 2 square meters. Along with providing a physical barrier, they also contain key parts of the immune system and serve as the interface between the body proper and the microbiome.

Examples

Some examples include:

Endometrium: the mucosa of the uterus
Gastric mucosa
Intestinal mucosa
Nasal mucosa
Olfactory mucosa
Oral mucosa
Penile mucosa
Respiratory mucosa
Vaginal mucosa
Frenulum of tongue
Anal canal
Conjunctiva

Development

Developmentally, the majority of mucous membranes are of endodermal origin. Exceptions include the palate, cheeks, floor of the mouth, gums, lips and the portion of the anal canal below the pectinate line, which are all ectodermal in origin.

Function

One of its functions is to keep the tissue moist (for example in the respiratory tract, including the mouth and nose). In the uterus, the mucous membrane is called the endometrium, and it swells each month and is then eliminated during menstruation.

Nutrition

Niacin

References

(2016-09-06). "Modes of locomotion in protists: 5 modes".
(9 August 2021). "Mucus.". Current Biology.
"Mucous membrane".
(2006). "Textbook of Medical Physiology, 11th Edition". Elsevier Saunders.
Stuart-Low, William. (1905). "Mucous Membranes Normal & Abnormal Including Mucin & Malignancy". Bailliére, Tindall & Cox.
(30 January 2012). "How the Immune System Works, 4th Edition". [[Wiley Publishing]].
"Chapter 25. Germ Layers and Their Derivatives - Review of Medical Embryology Book - LifeMap Discovery".
(2010-12-29). "Human Oral Mucosa: Development, Structure and Function". John Wiley & Sons.
(2014-12-01). "Larsen's Human Embryology". Elsevier Health Sciences.
(October 2016). "The Role of the Mucosa in Normal and Abnormal Bladder Function.". Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology.

Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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