mucous membranes

Examples of mucous membranes in the following topics:

• Epithelial Membranes

  • The mucous membranes are linings of mostly endodermal origin, covered in epithelium, which are involved in absorption and secretion.
  • The mucous membranes are linings of ectodermal origin.
  • These mucus membranes are involved in absorption and secretion.  
  • The term "mucous membrane" refers to where they are found in the body; not every mucous membrane secretes mucus.
  • Most mucous membranes contain stratified squamous or simple columnar epithelial tissue.

• Abscesses and Ulcers

  • An abscess is a collection of pus that results from an infectious process, while an ulcer is a break or opening in the mucous membrane.
  • An aphthous ulcer, also known as a canker sore, is a type of mouth ulcer that presents itself as a painful open sore inside the mouth or upper throat, characterized by a break in the mucous membrane.

• Gross Anatomy of the Stomach

  • A mucous membrane lines the stomach which contains glands (with chief cells) that secrete gastric juices.
  • They supply the muscular coat, ramify in the submucous coat, and are finally distributed to the mucous membrane.
  • From these plexuses fibrils are distributed to the muscular tissue and the mucous membrane.

• Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

  • Candidal vulvovaginitis is an infection of the vagina's mucous membranes caused by Candida albicans.
  • Candidal vulvovaginitis or vaginal thrush is an infection of the vagina's mucous membranes by Candida albicans .

• Spirochaetes

  • Spirochaetes are characterized by the presence of a double-membrane and long, spiral-shaped cells that are chemoheterotrophic.
  • The spirochaetes belong to a phylum of distinctive double-membrane bacteria that are characterized by their long, spiral-shaped cells.
  • The flagella, in spirochaetes, runs lengthwise between the inner and outer membranes in the periplasmic space.
  • Leptospira, the cause of leptospirosis - leptospirosis is transmitted to humans from animals and a common form of transmission is by allowing contaminated water to come in contact with unhealed breaks in the skin, eyes and mucous membranes.

• Physical and Chemical Barriers

  • Regions of the body that are not protected by skin (such as the eyes and mucous membranes) have alternative methods of defense.
  • These include tears in the eyes; mucous membranes that provide partial protection despite having to allow absorption and secretion; mucus secretions that trap and rinse away pathogens; and cilia (singular cilium) in the nasal passages and respiratory tract that push the mucus with the pathogens out of the body .
  • Some of these include the low pH of the stomach, which inhibits the growth of pathogens; blood proteins that bind and disrupt bacterial cell membranes; and the process of urination, which flushes pathogens from the urinary tract.

• Skin and Mucosae (Surface Barriers)

  • The basement membrane is  a thin sheet of fibers called the basement membrane that separates the dermis and epidermis.
  • The mucous membranes (or mucosae; singular mucosa) are linings of mostly endodermal origin, covered in various types of epithelium, that are involved in absorption and secretion.
  • Most mucous membranes secrete a sticky, thick fluid called mucus, which facilitates several barrier immune system functions and provides a moist environment for internal and semi-internal structures.

• Syphilis

  • While secondary disease is known for the many different ways it can manifest, symptoms most commonly involve the skin, mucous membranes, and lymph nodes.
  • It may form flat, broad, whitish, wart-like lesions known as condyloma latum on mucous membranes.
  • The spirochete is able to pass through intact mucous membranes or compromised skin.

• Urethra

  • The urethra consists of three coats of tissues: muscular, erectile, and mucous; the muscular layer being a continuation of the smooth muscle of the bladder. 
  • The mucuous urethral tissue are mucous membranes that line the interior of the urethra.
  • The mucuous membranes are especially important for protecting the urethral tissues from the corrosive effects of urine.

• Vagina

  • The vagina, along with the inside of the vulva, is reddish pink in color, as are most healthy internal mucous membranes in mammals.
  • The membrane of the vaginal wall also produces moisture, although it does not contain any glands.
  • The hymen is a membrane of tissue that surrounds or partially covers the external vaginal opening.
  • The walls of the vagina are composed of soft elastic folds of mucous membrane which stretch or contract (with support from pelvic muscles) to the size of the inserted penis or other object, stimulating the penis and helping to cause the male to experience orgasm and ejaculation, thus enabling fertilization.