Which term describes a growth extending from the surface of a mucous membrane?

Which term describes a growth extending from the surface of a mucous membrane?

• A. Polyp
• B. Sputum
• C. Tuberculosis
• D. Immunoglobulins

Answer: (A)

A growth extending from the surface of a mucous membrane is called a polyp. Polyps protrude from mucosal linings such as the colon, nose, stomach, or uterus and can be pedunculated (on a stalk) or flat. Many polyps are benign, but certain types, like colonic adenomas, carry a risk of developing into cancer if not monitored or removed. In contrast, sputum is simply mucus that is produced and coughed up from the respiratory tract, not a growth. Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by a bacterium, forming nodules in the lungs and other tissues, not a mucosal growth. Immunoglobulins are antibodies; they’re components of the immune system and do not describe a growth on a mucous membrane.

A growth extending from the surface of a mucous membrane is called a polyp. Polyps protrude from mucosal linings such as the colon, nose, stomach, or uterus and can be pedunculated (on a stalk) or flat. Many polyps are benign, but certain types, like colonic adenomas, carry a risk of developing into cancer if not monitored or removed. In contrast, sputum is simply mucus that is produced and coughed up from the respiratory tract, not a growth. Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by a bacterium, forming nodules in the lungs and other tissues, not a mucosal growth. Immunoglobulins are antibodies; they’re components of the immune system and do not describe a growth on a mucous membrane.