mucinemia
1. Presence of, or accumulation of, mucin in the blood.
2. The presence of mucin in blood, a condition that may occur in metastatic malignancies of the gastrointestinal tract or the ovaries.
Metastatic malignancies refer to the spread of a disease-producing agency; such as, cancer cells, from the initial or primary site of a disease to another part of the body.
mucinoblast
A precursor of a mucin-secreting cell.
mucinogen
A glycoprotein that forms mucin.
mucinoid
Resembling mucin or mucus present in saliva and bile, in salivary glands, and in the skin, connective tissues, tendon, and cartilage.
mucinolytic
Capable of hydrolyzing or dissolving mucin.
Capable of bringing about the hydrolysis (splitting of a compound into fragments by the addition of water) of mucin, as by a mucinase (an enzyme that acts upon mucin).
mucinosis
1. Collections of mucinous material in the skin, with papule and nodule formation in some cases; usually associated with myxedema (dry swelling of the skin and subcutaneous tissues, associated with an underactive thyroid gland).
2. An abnormal accumulation of mucopolysaccharides in the skin.
Mucopolysaccharides are long chains of sugar molecules that are found throughout the body, often in mucus and in fluid around the joints. They are more commonly called glycosaminoglycans.
When the body cannot break down mucopolysaccharides, a condition called mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) occurs.
Mucopolysaccharidoses refers to a group of inherited disorders of metabolism. People with MPS are missing or do not have enough of a substance (enzyme) needed to break down the sugar molecule chains.
mucinous
Characterized by, resembling, pertaining to, or containing mucin.
mucinuria
Presence of mucin in the urine, suggesting vaginal contamination.
muciparous
Producing or secreting mucus.
mucitis
An inflammation localized to a mucous membrane.
mucivorous
1. Consuming plant juices or mucilage.
2. Subsisting on mucus; such as, microbes.
mucoalbuminous
Having both a watery and a mucoid consistency.
mucoantibody
An antibody present on a mucous surface, as of the bronchial tree or in the intestinal lumen.
These antibodies are predominantly secretory and are found mixed with the mucous secretion of the membrane concerned.
mucobuccal
Referring to the mucous membrane lining the cheek.
mucocartilage
Cartilaginous tissue with a soft mucoid matrix, as is found in the central nucleus pulposus (soft, moist solid) of the intervertebral disk (pertaining to the space between two vertebrae).
