A mucous membrane, also known as mucosa, is a moist lining found in many parts of the body. It serves as a protective shield for the surfaces of internal organs and lines various body cavities, including the gastrointestinal tract, nasal passages, and others.
The mucous membrane originates from the endoderm and is continuous with the skin at body openings. These openings include the eyes, ears, nose, lips, inside the mouth, the urethral opening and the anus and vagina in females.
The mucous membrane is composed of one or more layers of epithelial cells that sit on top of a layer of loose connective tissue. Though these membranes can vary in structure, they all share the common feature of having an epithelial cell surface layer and a deeper connective tissue layer.
The main role of the mucous membrane is to keep the tissue it covers moist. Here are some other functions of the mucous membrane:
It provides protection and facilitates secretion
It serves as a protective barrier against physical trauma
It helps prevent the tissues it covers from drying out
It aids in the secretion of saliva and mucus
It assists in the absorption and transformation of nutrients
It plays a part in sensory functions – touch, pain, taste, thirst, temperature sensitivity, and reflexes like itching, gagging, salivating, and swallowing
It helps protect the body from harmful pathogens and damage from microbiological insults.
The oral mucosa differs from the skin in colour, texture, firmness, and moist surface. Other features which differentiate oral mucosa from the skin are: Existence of inconsequential salivary glands in oral mucosa, Absence of adnexal skin structures, such as hair follicles, sweat glands, and sebaceous glands, The texture of the surface of the oral mucosa is smoother than the skin, Oral mucosa varies in its firmness.
What are the factors affecting the colour of the oral mucosa?
The normal colour of the oral mucosa appears normal pale pink, while the inflamed oral tissues appear red rather than the usual pale pink. Factors affecting the colour of the oral mucosa include: Degree of keratinization, The thickness of the epithelium, Amount of melanin pigmentation, Concentration and state of dilation of the blood vessels in underlying connective tissue.
Which of the following diseases mainly affects the mucous membrane of the urinogenital tract?
Gonorrhoea affects the mucous membrane of the urinogenital tract in both males and females. Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
What is the function of the mucous membrane in the nose?
The function of the mucous membrane in the nose are: The mucous membrane warms the air we breathe in, The mucous membrane lines the nose, throat, and sinuses, The mucous membrane forms a gluey mucus that controls the dust and other small insects from entering the nose.
What is the function of the mucous membrane in the stomach?
Our stomach is lined by a protective layer of mucus called the mucous membrane. This membrane plays a vital role in: It protects the stomach lining from the harmful effects of excessive exposure to acid or pepsin, Acts as a protective barrier and protects bile salts, stomach acid, pancreatic enzymes and other macromolecules.