Mucous membranes are moist tissues that contain mucous glands. These membranes line and protect many body parts including the nose, eyelids, mouth, lungs, vagina, urinary tract and digestive tract. The mucous glands within the membranes release a thick fluid called mucus, which helps to keep the membranes moist. The mucus also helps trap bacteria and other disease-causing pathogens and prevent them from infecting the body.
Human Anatomy
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answeredPears are plagued by what many of you may know as “junk in the trunk.” Pears carry most of their weight on their lower hips, thighs, and butt, and perhaps most frustrating of all, a stubborn pooch of tummy fat. While it may take longer to accumulate this kind of fat, it’s also much harder to get rid of. Why? This kind of fat is influenced by estrogen, according to nutrition specialist Dr. Jeffrey Morrison. And estrogen makes fat. When a woman gets pregnant, estrogen spikes (which is why many women keep the weight on long after the baby is born). When a woman has a heavy period, estrogen spikes -- making more fat. The good news is that this kind of fat is not as dangerous as belly fat, but it may be more unsightly, as it can become that cheesy, cellulite-type fat that is every woman’s nightmare. And while an apple cannot become a pear, with excessive weight gain, a pear may wind up transforming into an apple.
Pears are at a higher risk for osteoporosis. During menopause, pears make much weaker estrogen, which is not strong enough to keep calcium in the bones. Other health issues for this type are cellulite, varicose veins, and joint problems. -
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See All 2 AnswersWe have learned through research that people who are shaped like apples -- with their fat mainly in the abdomen -- have worse illness associated with them. Patients who are shaped like apples are more likely to suffer from:- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol
- diabetes
- heart disease
- cancer
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HealthyWomen answeredWhere excess body fat is distributed on your body plays a role in your risk for disease. Weight gain around your waist (specifically in your abdominal area) is more of a health risk than weight gained on your hips and thighs. Unlike fat around the thighs, which is more common in women and is more likely to serve as an energy reservoir, abdominal fat deposits fatty acids directly into the bloodstream for immediate short-term energy, increasing triglyceride and, eventually, cholesterol levels. Therefore, excess abdominal fat is associated with an increase in blood cholesterol and insulin resistance, which may result in diabetes. An "apple shaped" figure may also raise your risks for other life-threatening illnesses, such as heart disease and stroke. -
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Dr. May M. Wakamatsu, MD , Gynecology, answeredThe urinary system, the intestines, and the reproductive organs are supported by ligaments and the pelvic floor. The pelvic floor is an important network of muscles and connective tissue that extends from your pubic bone to your tailbone, with openings for the urethra and anus, as well as the vagina in women. Most of the time, certain pelvic muscles stay contracted to hold the pelvic organs in place against the pull of gravity.
When you are active or trying to avoid urination, you can voluntarily tighten these muscles, along with the external urethral sphincter, to provide added support and prevent leakage. When you urinate, your pelvic floor muscles and urethral sphincter relax, and your bladder muscles contract, sending the urine from the bladder, through the urethra, and out of the body. When the bladder is empty, the bladder muscles relax, and the sphincter and pelvic muscles tighten. -
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The femoral triangle is an area in the upper medial aspect of the thigh, where the femoral nerve, artery, and vein pass through. It is bordered by the inguinal ligament at the top, the sartorius muscle on the lateral side, and the adductor longus medially.
(This answer provided for NATA by the University of Tampa Athletic Training Education Program)
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When we sweat, true cooling comes from the evaporation of that sweat. Humidity impairs the body’s ability to evaporate sweat. Thus, humidity reduces the body’s ability to give off heat and cool itself.
(This answer provided for NATA by the Marist College Athletic Training Education Program.) -
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Society of Interventional Radiology answeredA fistula is an communication that connects internal structures with the body’s surface. This can be surgically created but usually it is an abnormal formation that requires treatment. -
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See All 2 AnswersBasal body temperature is the body's lowest temperature measured at absolute rest. This is often used as a natural way to assess fertility, since a woman's basal body temperature is likely to be slightly higher during ovulation. -
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answeredOftentimes people don't realize that the body has its own extraordinary internal detoxification system. Here's a brief look at three critical organs involved:
- The Liver: Your first line of defense against toxins is your liver, which acts like a filter in preventing toxic substances contained in foods from passing into your blood stream.
- The Colon: This organ has bacteria that produce both healthy and unhealthy chemicals. You want to keep your colon flowing regularly since its main role is to flush out toxic chemicals before they can do you any harm.
- The Kidneys: Like clockwork, the kidneys are constantly filtering your blood and getting rid of toxins in the form of urine.
This content originally appeared on doctoroz.com