Mucin is composed primarily of carbohydrate. This is chains of carbon with lots of hydroxyls on the sides.

The purpose of mucin is to mix easily with water in any concentration, and to be slippery. Think about how the molecular structure makes this possible.

Mucin stains pale pink, because it has a little protein in it.

This epithelium is composed of tall columnar cells with mucin vacuoles at the apices.

With your study partners, find:

• epithelium


• mucin vacuoles

Hotshots: The thin pink bar on the apices of the cells is the brush border, microvilli.

United States Pronunciations:

• Mucin: MEW-sin (not -kin)

Roots:

• muco: slime

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Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences