(mū-kō′să )

(mū-kō′sē″)

(mū-kō′sī″ )
pl. mucosae [L. mucosus, mucosa, mucous]
A mucous membrane or moist tissue layer that lines the hollow organs and cavities of the body that open to the environment. It consists of an epithelial layer on a basement membrane and a connective tissue layer (the lamina propria). The tissue lining the alimentary canal also contains a smooth muscle layer (the muscularis mucosae). The type of epithelium, thickness, and presence or absence of glands vary with the function or location of the mucosa.
mucosal (mū-kō′săl ), adj.