Mucous membrane
The mucous membranes (or mucosae; singular mucosa) are linings of mostly endodermal origin, covered in epithelium, which are involved in absorption and secretion. They line various body cavities that are exposed to the external environment and internal organs. It is at several places continuous with skin: at the nostrils, the lips, the ears, the genital area, and the anus. The sticky, thick fluid secreted by the mucous membranes and gland is termed mucus. The term mucous membrane refers to where they are found in the body and not every mucous membrane secretes mucus.
Body cavities featuring mucous membrane include most of the respiratory system. The glans penis (head of the penis) and glans clitoridis and the inside of the prepuce (foreskin) and clitoral hood are not mucous membranes; however, the urethra is a mucous membrane. The secreted mucus traps the pathogens in the body, preventing any further activities of diseases.
Components
Some examples of mucosa
Additional images
<gallery>
Image:Illu ureters wall.jpg|Wall of the ureter.
Image:Gray1053.png|Section of mucous membrane of human stomach, near the cardiac orifice.
Image:Gut wall.svg|General structure of the gut wall showing the Mucosa.
</gallery>
See also
External links
- - "Mammal, whole system (LM, Low)"
ar:???? ?????
ca:Mucosa
cs:Sliznice
da:Slimhinde
de:Schleimhaut
es:Mucosa
eo:Mukozo
fa:???? ?????
fr:Muqueuse
id:Membran mukosa
it:Mucosa
la:Mucosa
lt:Gleivin?
hu:Nyálkahártya
nl:Slijmvlies
ja:??
no:Slimhinne
pl:B?ona ?luzowa
pt:Mucosa
ru:????????? ????????
sk:Sliznica
sl:Sluznica
fi:Limakalvo
sv:Slemhinna
th:??????????
tr:Mukoza
uk:??????? ????????
Source: Wikipedia | The above article is available under the GNU FDL. | Edit this article
|