mucous membrane

American  

noun

mucous membranes plural

1. a lubricating membrane lining an internal surface or an organ, as the alimentary, respiratory, and genitourinary canals.

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mucous membrane British  

/ ˌmjuːkəʊˈmɛmbrənəs /

noun

1. Also called: mucosa.  a mucus-secreting membrane that lines body cavities or passages that are open to the external environment

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mucous membrane Scientific  

/ myo̅o̅′kəs /

1. Any of the membranes lining the passages of the body, such as the respiratory and digestive tracts, that open to the outside. Cells in the mucous membranes secrete mucus, which lubricates the membranes and protects against infection.

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mucous membrane Cultural  

1. The membrane that lines passageways and cavities in the body that lead to the outside, such as the mouth, gastrointestinal tract, nose, vagina, and urethra. These membranes are equipped with glands that secrete mucus.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• mucomembranous
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• mucous membranes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of mucous membrane

First recorded in 1805–15

Example Sentences

William, who Rona chirpily informs us has “a rare mucous membrane disorder,” is happy to get “lugubrious”: “Meaning extremely sad and droopy? A topic I am all too familiar with.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 24, 2025

The disease causes tongue and mucous membrane lesions, problems with swallowing, lameness and stiffness, affecting animal welfare and leading to a reduction in milk yields.

From BBC • May 6, 2024

When it comes into contact with any skin or mucous membrane, capsaicin causes a burning sensation.

From Salon • Jan. 27, 2024

Pink eye, known to doctors as conjunctivitis, describes inflammation of the conjunctiva—a thin, transparent mucous membrane that covers the white part of the eyeball.

From Scientific American • May 12, 2023

This is an inflammation of the mucous membrane, which lines the nasal passages, and it sometimes extends to the larynx and pharynx.

From Sheep, Swine, and Poultry Embracing the History and Varieties of Each; The Best Modes of Breeding; Their Feeding and Management; Together with etc. by Jennings, Robert