membrane
Other forms: membranes
A membrane is a thin layer of something. For an example of a membrane, you don’t have to look far: your skin is a kind of membrane.
Membranes are thin and flexible, but usually still strong enough to protect what’s inside or underneath them. Biologists often study membranes, such as those that surround your cells and organs. There are also membranes that don’t have anything to do with biology. A high-tech jacket might have a waterproof membrane to keep you dry in the rain.
Definitions of membrane
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a pliable sheet of tissue that covers or lines or connects the organs or cells of animals or plantssynonyms: tissue layertypes:trophoblastthe membrane that forms the wall of the blastocyst in early development; aids implantation in the uterine wallchorioallantoic membrane, chorioallantoisthe very vascular fetal membrane composed of the fused chorion and adjacent wall of the allantoiswebmembrane connecting the toes of some aquatic birds and mammalsBowman's capsule, capsula glomeruli, glomerular capsulethin double membrane surrounding the glomerulus of a nephronaxolemmaouter membrane covering an axonbasilar membranea membrane in the cochlea that supports the organ of Cortifetal membraneany membrane that functions for the protection or nourishment or respiration or excretion of a developing fetuschoroid, choroid coata highly vascular membrane in the eye between the retina and the sclera; a dark pigmentation minimizes the scattering of light inside the eyeciliary bodythe part of the tunic of the eye between the choroid coat and the iriscorneathe transparent dome-shaped anterior portion of the outer covering of the eye; it covers the iris and pupil and is continuous with the scleradiaphragm, midriff(anatomy) a muscular partition separating the abdominal and thoracic cavities; functions in respirationendocraniummembrane lining the inside of the skullendosteumvascular membrane that lines the inner surface of long bonesependymathin epithelial membrane lining the ventricles of the brain and the spinal cord canalfertilization membranethe membrane that forms around a fertilized ovum and prevents penetration by additional spermatozoonhyaloid, hyaloid membranethe transparent membrane enveloping the vitreous humor of the eye and separating it from the retinaintimathe innermost membrane of an organ (especially the inner lining of an artery or vein or lymphatic vessel)irismuscular diaphragm that controls the size of the pupil which in turn controls the amount of light that enters the eye; it forms the colored portion of the eyelamellaa thin membrane that is one of the calcified layers that form bonesmucosa, mucous membranemucus-secreting membrane lining all body cavities or passages that communicate with the exteriorperiosteuma dense fibrous membrane covering the surface of bones (except at their extremities) and serving as an attachment for tendons and muscles; contains nerves and blood vessels that nourish the enclosed boneperitheliumtissue layer around small blood vesselsretinathe innermost light-sensitive membrane covering the back wall of the eyeball; it is continuous with the optic nervesarcolemmaan extensible membrane enclosing the contractile substance of a muscle fibersemipermeable membranea membrane (as a cell membrane) that allows some molecules to pass through but not othersserosa, serous membranea thin membrane lining the closed cavities of the body; has two layers with a space between that is filled with serous fluidsynovial membrane, synoviuma thin membrane in synovial (freely moving) joints that lines the joint capsule and secretes synovial fluidallantoisthe vascular fetal membrane that lies below the chorion and develops from the hindgut in many embryonic higher vertebrates (reptiles, birds and mammals)caul, embryonic membrane, veilthe inner membrane of embryos in higher vertebrates (especially when covering the head at birth)cell membrane, cytomembrane, plasma membranea thin membrane (a double layer of lipids) enclosing the cytoplasm of a cell; proteins in the membrane control passage of ions (like sodium or potassium or calcium) in and out of the cellconjunctivaa transparent lubricating mucous membrane that covers the eyeball and the under surface of the eyelidperforated eardruman eardrum with a hole or tear in it; can interfere with normal hearing and cause other ear problemspleurathe thin serous membrane around the lungs and inner walls of the chestperitoneuma transparent membrane that lines the abdominal cavity in mammals and covers most of the visceraendocardiumthe membrane that lines the cavities of the heart and forms part of the heart valvespericardiuma serous membrane with two layers that surrounds the heartparietal pericardiumthe tough outermost layer of the pericardium that is attached to the diaphragm and the sternumleptomeningesthe two innermost layers of the meninges; cerebrospinal fluid circulates between these innermost layerspia materthe highly vascular innermost of the 3 meningesendometrium(pregnancy) the mucous membrane that lines the uterus; thickens under hormonal control and (if pregnancy does not occur) is shed in menstruation; if pregnancy occurs it is shed along with the placenta at parturitionhymen, maidenhead, virginal membranea fold of tissue that partly covers the entrance to the vagina of a virginalbugineawhitish tunictype of:animal tissuethe tissue in the bodies of animals
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a thin pliable sheet of material
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Florida EOC Biology 1
Learn this list of 50 words taken from sample questions for the Biology 1 exam of the Florida EOC.
