What is the difference between mucus and mucous?
1 Answer
Jan 19, 2015
The term mucous is an adjective form of mucus. That is the only difference. Mucus is the product of mucous glands.
In vertebrates, mucus is a slippery secretion produced by, and covering, mucous membranes.
Mucous membranes cover the body systems that have an outlet to the outside of the body. This includes the respiratory, urinary, reproductive and digestive systems.
These membranes are protective and help preserve moisture and are a barrier to damaging microbes.