mucin

[ myoo-sin ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Biochemistry.

any of a class of glycoproteins found in saliva, gastric juice, etc., that form viscous solutions and act as lubricants or protectants on external and internal surfaces of the body.

mucin

/ ˈmjuːsɪn /

biochem any of a group of nitrogenous mucoproteins occurring in saliva, skin, tendon, etc, that produce a very viscous solution in water

Origin of mucin¹

First recorded in 1825–35; muc- + -in ²

Origin of mucin¹

C19: via French from Latin mucus

Mucins reduce friction, making food slippery enough for us to swallow.

This skeleton was composed of hard cartilage, and arose in white fibrous tissue containing gelatin rather than mucin.

In its chemical composition there is a marked preponderance of gelatin with only a slight amount of a mucin-body.

This fibrillation of mucus is regarded as the result of a coagulation of its mucin, previously held in solution by an alkali.

In mucous tissue, however, there is present mucin, wholly independent of any epithelial degeneration.

The intercellular substance of cartilaginous tumors also becomes softened and converted into a liquid containing mucin.

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