mucous membrane

noun

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

Nearby words

mucous, mucous cell, mucous colitis, mucous connective tissue, mucous gland, mucous membrane, mucous plug, mucoviscidosis, mucro, mucronate, mucus

Origin of mucous membrane

First recorded in 1805–15

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for mucous membrane

mucous membrane

noun

a mucus-secreting membrane that lines body cavities or passages that are open to the external environmentAlso called: mucosa

Derived Forms

mucomembranous (ˌmjuːkəʊˈmɛmbrənəs), adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for mucous membrane

mucous membrane

n.

A membrane lining all body passages that communicate with the exterior, such as the respiratory, genitourinary, and alimentary tracts, and having cells and associated glands that secrete mucus.mucosa

Science definitions for mucous membrane

mucous membrane

[ myōō′kəs ]

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.

Culture definitions for mucous membrane

mucous membrane

[ (myooh-kuhs) ]

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.