Mucous membrane

The term mucosa - Latin -med. Tunica mucosa ( from the Latin tunica, skin ',' tissue ( layer) ', and mucus, phlegm ') or shortly called mucosa - refers to the protective layer that coats the inside of hollow organs. The conjunctiva of the eye and the outer layer of the glans is mucous membranes. In contrast to normal skin, it has no real stratum corneum and not hair. Essential ( and namesake ) of mucous membranes is the production of mucins, mucins.

Construction

A mucous membrane consists of an epithelial layer ( epithelial layer mucosae), an epithelial muscle layer ( muscularis mucosae) and an intermediate layer of connective tissue (lamina propria ).

The epithelium may be ( oral cavity, for example ) single layer (eg intestine) or multilayered. In some organs, the epithelium may be superficial keratinization is also a specific show (eg rumen of ruminants ). Frequently one finds on the epithelial surface enlargements in the form of microvilli, partly cilia and stereocilia.

The intrinsic layer contains mostly glands (glands mucosa) that keep the mucosa moist. But it can also be drüsenlos (so-called cutaneous mucosa, eg vagina), here is the output from the Epithelium liquid and / or glandular secretions adjacent portions assume the formation of the liquid film. Only in the area of the gastrointestinal tract is the natural layer embedded a thin muscle layer, the lamina muscularis mucosae. While the term " mucosal " for glands loose linings of internal organs in animal anatomy in general is common, this is not uniformly applied in the human anatomical literature. Some authors do not go in glandular formations on a loose term for the epithelium and lamina propria.

Function

Mucous membranes serve the mechanical definition of the organ surface. Many mucous membranes have the property by active transport proteins (e.g., glucose transporter) to be transported to the mucosal surface molecules in a certain direction, and thus allow both secretion and resorption. In the intrinsic layer are frequently found lymph. Mucosa can secrete immunoglobulins (especially IgA) and thus have an important protective function against invading pathogens. This by the " mucosa -associated lymphoid tissue " or MALT (of English. Mucosa associated lymphoid tissue ) mediated and realized by IgA -specific defense against infection is also known as mucosal immunity (English: mucosal immunity ) refers.

Examples

• Intestinal mucosa
• Endometrium
• Stomach lining
• Mukosablock
• Oral mucosa
• Nasal mucosa