Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsEars, Nose & ThroatAging and Mucous MembranesOral Mucous MembranesCaring for Your Membranes
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Ears, Nose & Throat
Aging and Mucous Membranes
Oral Mucous Membranes
Caring for Your Membranes
Mucous membranes protect the inside parts of your body that are exposed to air—similar to how your skin protects your external body. Mucous membranes are rich with mucous glands that secrete mucus to help keep the membranes moist.
Patti McConville / Getty Images
Examples of mucous membranes include lips, mouth, nasal passages, middle ear, and theeustachian tube. Other mucous membranes include the lining of the digestive tract, the lining of the urogenital tract (including the urethra and vagina), the lining of the respiratory tract, and your eyes (conjunctival membranes).
The human body has four types of tissue with which our organs, bones, cartilage, and other parts of the body are made. One of the types, epithelium, is subdivided into two categories: mucous membranes and serous membranes.
Mucous membranes are made up of epithelial cells that usually cover and protect underlying connective tissue, which is fibrous and elastic tissue built for supporting other structures of the body.
Mucous Membranes of the Ears, Nose, and Throat
Because they are exposed to the outside world, mucous membranes are found in your ears, nose, and throat.
These reddish-pink membranes line the inside of the mouth, and the oral mucosa continues outside the mouth to form the lips.
Because mucous membranes are prone to becoming dry when not adequately hydrated, the lips frequently can become dry. Under normal circumstances, your saliva helps to keep your lips moist.
Nasal Mucous Membranes
Nasal mucous membranes are lined with small blood vessels that help to warm and humidify the air you breathe.They are also lined withcilia—tiny hair-like structures—which help to trap the debris that you breathe in.
The cilia then move the debris either toward the front of your nose or toward the back of the throat. This is an important function of your immune system, helping to keep harmful germs out of the body.
Mucous Membranes of the Ears
These are the first line of defense for the middle ear, which is normally bacteria free. Like the nasal mucous membranes, these have cilia which move any debris toward the opening of the auditory tube. The auditory tube likewise has mucous membranes with cilia to transport the debris toward the back of the throat to be swallowed.
Esophageal Mucous Membranes
Esophageal mucous membranes work in conjunction with a muscular portion to allow forperistalsis, which is the process of moving food toward the stomach. Peristalsis works in a wave-like motion to assist food movement.
The mucous membranes in the esophagus also contain minor salivary glands that secrete bicarbonate in high concentrations.The bicarbonate helps to neutralize any refluxed stomach acid.
Aging and Your Mucous Membranes
Unlike tissue (skin) on the outside of your body, mucous membranes are relatively sheltered from ultraviolet radiation and exposure to the weather. This helps the mucous membranes remain relatively unchanged throughout the aging process.
Mucous membranes also replace themselves quite quickly. However, studies have found that oral mucosa becomes increasingly thin with age.
Oral Mucous Membranes Are the Mirror of the Body
The oral cavity is often referred to as the “mirror of the body,” because the mucous membranes in your mouth change depending on many different diseases.
A thorough oral exam may help tip your healthcare provider off as to what problem you may be having.
Changes can be seen in the following types of disorders:
Caring for Your Mucous Membranes
Dry mucous membranes are a sign of dehydration and can cause various health problems.For example, dry mucous membranes in the lining of the nose can cause frequentbloody noses.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Dwivedy A, Aich P.Importance of innate mucosal immunity and the promises it holds.Int J Gen Med. 2011;4:299-311. doi:10.2147/IJGM.S17525Kaylie DM.Nose and sinuses. Merck Manual Consumer Version.Ghannam MG, Singh P.Anatomy, head and neck, salivary glands. StatPearls.University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.Aging voice.Islam NM, Bhattacharyya I, Cohen DM.Common oral manifestations of systemic disease.Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2011;44(1):161-182, vi. doi:10.1016/j.otc.2010.09.006Fukushima Y, Sano Y, Isozaki Y, et al.A pilot clinical evaluation of oral mucosal dryness in dehydrated patients using a moisture-checking device.Clin Exp Dent Res. 2019;5(2):116-120. doi:10.1002/cre2.145Additional ReadingLim DJ.Functional morphology of the mucosa of the middle ear and eustachian tube.Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 1976;85(2 Suppl 25 Pt 2):36-43. doi:10.1177/00034894760850S209National Cancer Institute.SEER training modules: membranes.Squier CA, Kremer MJ.Biology of oral mucosa and esophagus.J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr. 2001;(29):7-15. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.jncimonographs.a003443Sulyanto R.Biology of the mouth. Merck Manual Consumer Version.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Dwivedy A, Aich P.Importance of innate mucosal immunity and the promises it holds.Int J Gen Med. 2011;4:299-311. doi:10.2147/IJGM.S17525Kaylie DM.Nose and sinuses. Merck Manual Consumer Version.Ghannam MG, Singh P.Anatomy, head and neck, salivary glands. StatPearls.University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.Aging voice.Islam NM, Bhattacharyya I, Cohen DM.Common oral manifestations of systemic disease.Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2011;44(1):161-182, vi. doi:10.1016/j.otc.2010.09.006Fukushima Y, Sano Y, Isozaki Y, et al.A pilot clinical evaluation of oral mucosal dryness in dehydrated patients using a moisture-checking device.Clin Exp Dent Res. 2019;5(2):116-120. doi:10.1002/cre2.145Additional ReadingLim DJ.Functional morphology of the mucosa of the middle ear and eustachian tube.Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 1976;85(2 Suppl 25 Pt 2):36-43. doi:10.1177/00034894760850S209National Cancer Institute.SEER training modules: membranes.Squier CA, Kremer MJ.Biology of oral mucosa and esophagus.J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr. 2001;(29):7-15. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.jncimonographs.a003443Sulyanto R.Biology of the mouth. Merck Manual Consumer Version.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Dwivedy A, Aich P.Importance of innate mucosal immunity and the promises it holds.Int J Gen Med. 2011;4:299-311. doi:10.2147/IJGM.S17525Kaylie DM.Nose and sinuses. Merck Manual Consumer Version.Ghannam MG, Singh P.Anatomy, head and neck, salivary glands. StatPearls.University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.Aging voice.Islam NM, Bhattacharyya I, Cohen DM.Common oral manifestations of systemic disease.Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2011;44(1):161-182, vi. doi:10.1016/j.otc.2010.09.006Fukushima Y, Sano Y, Isozaki Y, et al.A pilot clinical evaluation of oral mucosal dryness in dehydrated patients using a moisture-checking device.Clin Exp Dent Res. 2019;5(2):116-120. doi:10.1002/cre2.145
Dwivedy A, Aich P.Importance of innate mucosal immunity and the promises it holds.Int J Gen Med. 2011;4:299-311. doi:10.2147/IJGM.S17525
Kaylie DM.Nose and sinuses. Merck Manual Consumer Version.
Ghannam MG, Singh P.Anatomy, head and neck, salivary glands. StatPearls.
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.Aging voice.
Islam NM, Bhattacharyya I, Cohen DM.Common oral manifestations of systemic disease.Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2011;44(1):161-182, vi. doi:10.1016/j.otc.2010.09.006
Fukushima Y, Sano Y, Isozaki Y, et al.A pilot clinical evaluation of oral mucosal dryness in dehydrated patients using a moisture-checking device.Clin Exp Dent Res. 2019;5(2):116-120. doi:10.1002/cre2.145
Lim DJ.Functional morphology of the mucosa of the middle ear and eustachian tube.Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 1976;85(2 Suppl 25 Pt 2):36-43. doi:10.1177/00034894760850S209National Cancer Institute.SEER training modules: membranes.Squier CA, Kremer MJ.Biology of oral mucosa and esophagus.J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr. 2001;(29):7-15. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.jncimonographs.a003443Sulyanto R.Biology of the mouth. Merck Manual Consumer Version.
Lim DJ.Functional morphology of the mucosa of the middle ear and eustachian tube.Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 1976;85(2 Suppl 25 Pt 2):36-43. doi:10.1177/00034894760850S209
National Cancer Institute.SEER training modules: membranes.
Squier CA, Kremer MJ.Biology of oral mucosa and esophagus.J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr. 2001;(29):7-15. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.jncimonographs.a003443
Sulyanto R.Biology of the mouth. Merck Manual Consumer Version.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
