membrane /mem·brane/ (mem´brān) a thin layer of tissue that covers a surface, lines a cavity, or divides a space or organ.
alveolar-capillary membrane , alveolocapillary membrane a thin tissue barrier through which gases are exchanged between the alveolar air and the blood in the pulmonary capillaries. Called also blood-air barrier and blood-gas barrier.
alveolodental membrane periodontium.
arachnoid membrane arachnoid (2).
atlantooccipital membrane either of two midline ligamentous structures, one (the anterior ) passing from the anterior arch of the atlas to the anterior margin of the foramen magnum, and the other (the posterior ) connecting the posterior aspects of the same structures.
basement membrane a sheet of amorphous extracellular material upon which the basal surfaces of epithelial cells rest; it is also associated with muscle cells, Schwann cells, fat cells, and capillaries, interposed between the cellular elements and the underlying connective layer. 
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Basement membrane, comprising the basal lamina and reticular lamina, in a diagram of a section through epithelial tissue.
basilar membrane of cochlear duct lamina basilaris.
Bichat's membrane fenestrated m.
Bowman's membrane a thin layer of cornea between the outer layer of stratified epithelium and the substantia propria.
Bruch's membrane the inner layer of the choroid, separating it from the pigmentary layer of the retina.
Brunn's membrane the epithelium of the olfactory region of the nose.
cloacal membrane the thin temporary barrier between the embryonic hindgut and the exterior.
Corti's membrane a gelatinous mass resting on the organ of Corti, connected with the hairs of the hair cells.
croupous membrane the false membrane of true croup.
cytoplasmic membrane plasma m.
decidual membranes , deciduous membranes decidua.
Descemet's membrane a thin hyaline membrane between the substantia propria and endothelial layer of the cornea.
diphtheritic membrane a false membrane characteristic of diphtheria, formed by coagulation necrosis.
drum membrane tympanic m.
elastic membrane one made up largely of elastic fibers.
enamel membrane
1. dental cuticle.
2. the inner layer of cells within the enamel organ of the fetal dental germ.
epiretinal membrane a pathologic membrane partially covering the surface of the retina, probably originating chiefly from the retinal pigment epithelial and glial cells.
extraembryonic membranes those that protect the embryo or fetus and provide for its nutrition, respiration, and excretion; the yolk sac (umbilical vesicle), allantois, amnion, chorion, decidua, and placenta.
false membrane neomembrane; a membranous exudate, such as the diphtheritic membrane.
fenestrated membrane one of the perforated elastic sheets of the tunica intima and tunica media of arteries.
fetal membranes extraembryonic m's.
fibroelastic membrane of larynx the fibroelastic layer beneath the mucous coat of the larynx.
germinal membrane blastoderm.
glomerular membrane the membrane covering a glomerular capillary.
hemodialyzer membrane the semipermeable membrane that filters the blood in a hemodialyzer, commonly made of cuprophane, cellulose acetate, polyacrylonitrile, or polymethyl methacrylate.
hyaline membrane
1. a membrane between the outer root sheath and inner fibrous layer of a hair follicle.
2. a layer of eosinophilic hyaline material lining alveoli, alveolar ducts, and bronchioles, found at autopsy in infants who have died of respiratory distress syndrome of the newborn.
hyaloid membrane vitreous m. (1).
Jackson's membrane a web of adhesions sometimes covering the cecum and causing obstruction of the bowel.
keratogenous membrane matrix unguis.
limiting membrane one which constitutes the border of some tissue or structure.
medullary membrane endosteum.
mucous membrane the membrane lining various canals and cavities of the body.
Nasmyth's membrane dental cuticle.
nuclear membrane
1. either of the membranes, inner and outer, comprising the nuclear envelope.
2. nuclear envelope.
olfactory membrane the olfactory portion of the mucous membrane lining the nasal fossa.
ovular membrane vitelline m.
peridental membrane , periodontal membrane periodontal ligament.
placental membrane the membrane separating the fetal from the maternal blood in the placenta; sometimes inappropriately called the placental barrier. 
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Placental membrane separating the blood in the fetal capillaries from the maternal blood in the intervillous space. (A), chorionic villus containing the fetal vessels and surrounded by maternal blood in the intervillous space; (B), cross-section through a villus, showing the layers of the placental membrane separating the fetal blood from the maternal blood surrounding the villus.
plasma membrane the structure, composed of lipids, proteins, and some carbohydrates, that encloses the cytoplasm of a cell, forming a selectively permeable barrier.
pupillary membrane a mesodermal layer attached to the rim or front of the iris during embryonic development.
Reissner's membrane the thin anterior wall of the cochlear duct, separating it from the scala vestibuli.
reticular membrane , reticulated membrane a netlike membrane over the spiral organ of the ear, through which pass the free ends of the outer hair cells.
membrane of round window secondary tympanic m.
Ruysch's membrane , ruyschian membrane lamina choroidocapillaris.
Scarpa's membrane secondary tympanic m.
schneiderian membrane the mucous membrane lining the nose.
secondary tympanic membrane the membrane enclosing the fenestra cochlearis.
serous membrane tunica serosa.
Shrapnell's membrane the thin upper part of the tympanic membrane.
suprapleural membrane the strengthened portion of the endothoracic fascia attached to the inner part of the first rib and the transverse process of the seventh cervical vertebra.
synaptic membrane the part of the plasma membrane of a neuron that is within a synapse.
synovial membrane
1. the inner of the two layers of the articular capsule of a synovial joint, composed of loose connective tissue and having a free smooth surface that lines the joint cavity.
2. either of two membranes, superior and inferior, lining the articular capsule of the temporomandibular joint.
tectorial membrane Corti's m.
tympanic membrane the thin partition between the external acoustic meatus and the middle ear. 
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Tympanic membrane (membrana tympanica).
undulating membrane a protoplasmic membrane running like a fin along the bodies of certain protozoa.
unit membrane the trilaminar structure of the plasma membrane and other cellular membranes (e.g., nuclear m's, mitochondrial m's) revealed by the electron microscope.
vestibular membrane of cochlear duct the thin anterior wall of the cochlear duct, separating it from the scala tympani.
vitelline membrane the cytoplasmic, noncellular membrane surrounding an oocyte.
vitreous membrane
1. a delicate boundary layer investing the vitreous body.
2. Bruch's m.
4. hyaline m. (1).
yolk membrane vitelline m.
Zinn's membrane ciliary zonule.
| medullary membrane n. See endosteum. |
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