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

• Epithelium
• Lamina propria
• Smooth muscle/Muscularis mucosa/ (GI tract)

Some examples of mucosa

• Buccal mucosa
• Esophageal mucosa
• Gastric mucosa
• Intestinal mucosa
• Olfactory mucosa
• Oral mucosa
• bronchial mucosa
• Uterine mucosa
• Endometrium is the mucosa of the uterus

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

• Mucin
• Mucocutaneous boundary

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:??????? ????????