Mucus
- 9 dictionary resultsmu⋅cus
[myoo-kuh
s] 
| a viscous, slimy mixture of mucins, water, electrolytes, epithelial cells, and leukocytes that is secreted by glands lining the nasal, esophageal, and other body cavities and serves primarily to protect and lubricate surfaces. |
1655–65; < L mūcus snot; akin to Gk mykt
r nose, mýxa slimeBased on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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| mu·cus (myōō'kəs) n. The viscous, slippery substance that consists chiefly of mucin, water, cells, and inorganic salts and is secreted as a protective lubricant coating by cells and glands of the mucous membranes. [Latin mūcus.] |
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Mucus
Mu"cus\, n. [L. mucus, muccus; cf. mucere 8be moldy or musty, Gr. ? mucus, and Skr. muc to release. Cf. Match for striking fire, Moist, Mucilage.]1. (Physiol.) A viscid fluid secreted by mucous membranes, which it serves to moisten and protect. It covers the lining membranes of all the cavities which open externally, such as those of the mouth, nose, lungs, intestinal canal, urinary passages, etc. 2. (Physiol.) Any other animal fluid of a viscid quality, as the synovial fluid, which lubricates the cavities of the joints; -- improperly so used. 3. (Bot.) A gelatinous or slimy substance found in certain alg[ae] and other plants.Cite This Source
mucus
A slippery and somewhat sticky fluid secreted by the glands in mucous membranes. Mucus lubricates and protects the mucous membranes.
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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mucus
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Main Entry: mu·cus
Pronunciation: 'myü-k&s
Function: noun
: a viscid slippery secretion that is usually rich in mucins and is produced bymucous membranes which it moistens and protects
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mucus mu·cus (my&oomacr;'kəs)
n.
The viscous slippery substance that consists chiefly of mucin, water, cells, and inorganic salts and that is secreted as a protective lubricant coating by the cells and glands of the mucous membranes.
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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mucus (my 'kəs) Pronunciation Key
The slimy, viscous substance secreted as a protective lubricant by mucous membranes. Mucus is composed chiefly of large glycoproteins called mucins and inorganic salts suspended in water. |
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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mucus
viscous fluid that moistens, lubricates, and protects many of the passages of the digestive and respiratory tracts in the body. Mucus is composed of water, epithelial (surface) cells, dead leukocytes, mucin, and inorganic salts. Mucus is produced by mucous cells, which are frequently clustered into small glands located on the mucous membrane that lines virtually the entire digestive tract. Large numbers of mucous cells occur in the mouth, where mucus is used both to moisten food and to keep the oral membranes moist while they are in direct contact with the air. Mucus in the nose helps to trap dust, bacteria, and other small inhaled particles. The stomach also has large numbers of mucous cells. Gastric mucus forms a layer about one millimetre thick that lines the stomach, protecting the organ from highly acidic gastric juice and preventing the juice from digesting the stomach itself.
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