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A mucous tissue lining various tubular structures, consisting of epithelium, lamina, propria, and, in the digestive tract, a layer of smooth muscle (muscularis mucosae). SYN: tunica m. [TA], mucous membranes, membrana m., mucosal tunics, mucous tunics. [L. fem. of mucosus, mucous]
- m. of bronchi [TA] the inner coat of a bronchus. SYN: tunica m. bronchi [TA], mucous membrane of bronchus, bronchial m..
- m. of ductus deferens [TA] the inner layer of the ductus deferens. SYN: tunica m. ductus deferentis [TA], mucous membrane of ductus deferens.
- m. of esophagus [TA] the inner coat of the esophagus. SYN: tunica m. esophagi [TA], mucous membrane of esophagus, esophageal m..
- m. of female urethra [TA] the inner mucosal layer of the female urethra. SYN: tunica m. urethrae femininae [TA], mucous membrane of female urethra.
- m. of gallbladder [TA] the inner coat of the gallbladder. SYN: tunica m. vesicae biliaris [TA], mucous membrane of gallbladder, tunica m. vesicae felleae.
- gingival m. that portion of the oral mucous membrane that covers and is attached to the necks of the teeth and the alveolar process of the jaws; it is demarcated from lining m. on the facial aspect by a clearly defined line which marks the mucogingival junction, and, in contrast to the lining m., is keratinized and lighter in color; on the palatal surface, the gingiva blends imperceptibly with the palatal m..
- m. of large intestine [TA] the mucosal lining (epithelium, lamina propria, and muscularis mucosae) of the wall of all the parts of the large intestine (cecum, colon, rectum, and anal canal) collectively. SYN: tunica m. intestini crassi [TA], mucous membrane of large intestine.
- m. of larynx [TA] the mucous coat of the larynx. SYN: tunica m. laryngis [TA], mucous membrane of larynx, laryngeal m..
- m. of male urethra [TA] innermost layer of urethra including an epithelium typical of the urinary tract (a transitional epithelium or urothelium) proximal to the openings of the ejaculatory ducts and typical of the genital tract (a stratified columnar epithelium) distally that continues through the intermediate and most of the spongy urethra, changing again to a stratified squamous epithelium in the region of the navicular fossa; many recesses occur in the m. of the spongy portion that continue into tubular, branching mucous glands. SYN: tunica urethrae masculinae [TA], mucous membrane of male urethra.
- m. of mouth [TA] the mucous membrane of the oral cavity, including the gingiva. SYN: oral m. [TA], tunica m. oris [TA].
- m. of nose [TA] the lining of the nasal cavity, it is continuous with the skin in the vestibule of the nose and with the m. of the nasopharynx, the paranasal sinuses, and the nasolacrimal duct and contains goblet cells; it is subdivided into the olfactory region and respiratory region. SYN: tunica m. nasi [TA], mucous membrane of nose, membrana pituitosa, nasal m., pituitary membrane, schneiderian membrane.
- m. of pharyngotympanic (auditory) tube [TA] the lining coat of the auditory tube. SYN: tunica m. tubae auditivae [TA], mucous membrane of pharyngotympanic auditory tube, tunica m. tubae auditoriae.
- m. of pharynx [TA] the mucous coat of the pharynx. SYN: tunica m. pharyngis [TA], mucous membrane of pharynx, pharyngeal m..
- m. of renal pelvis [TA] innermost of three layers of the wall of the renal pelvis, identical in structure to that of the ureter, that is, consisting of a transitional epithelium (urothelium) and an underlying lamina propria. SYN: tunica m. pelvis renalis [TA].
- respiratory m. pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium with goblet cells and a lamina propria containing, in addition to connective tissue, numerous seromucous glands and in some regions many thin-walled veins that line the airways; it includes the respiratory region of the nasal m. [TA] (pars respiratoria tunicae mucosae nasi [TA]), m. of the trachea [TA] (tunica m. tracheae [TA]), and m. of bronchi [TA] (tunica m. bronchi [TA]). See respiratory region of m. of nasal cavity.
- m. of seminal gland [TA] the mucous membrane lining the seminal gland (vesicle). SYN: tunica m. vesiculae seminalis, m. of seminal vesicle.
- m. of small intestine [TA] the mucous coat of the small intestine. SYN: tunica m. intestini tenuis [TA], mucous membrane of small intestine.
- m. of stomach [TA] the mucous layer of the stomach. SYN: tunica m. gastrica [TA], mucous membrane of stomach, gastric m..
- m. of tongue [TA] the m. forming the surface of the tongue; that of the dorsum of the tongue appears velvety due to the presence of vast numbers of papillae; that of the inferior surface is smooth and thinner. SYN: tunica m. linguae [TA], mucous membrane of tongue, lingual m..
- m. of trachea [TA] the inner mucous layer of the trachea. SYN: tunica m. tracheae [TA], mucous membrane of trachea, tracheal m..
- m. of tympanic cavity [TA] the mucosal lining of the tympanic cavity and the structures in it. SYN: tunica m. cavitatis tympani [TA], mucous membrane of tympanic cavity.
- m. of ureter [TA] the inner mucosal layer of the ureter. SYN: tunica m. ureteris [TA], mucous membrane of ureter.
- m. of (urinary) bladder [TA] the inner coat of the urinary bladder. SYN: tunica m. vesicae urinariae [TA], mucous membrane of urinary bladder.
- m. of uterine tube [TA] the inner mucosal layer of the uterine tube. SYN: tunica m. tubae uterinae [TA], mucous membrane of uterine tube.
- m. of vagina [TA] the mucosal layer of the vagina. SYN: tunica m. vaginae [TA], mucous membrane of vagina, vaginal m..
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mu·co·sal -zəl adj
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n.
• mucosal adj.
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mu·co·sa (mu-koґsə) [L. “mucusâ€] tunica mucosa. mucosal adjMedical dictionary. 2011.