Question

Select the correct meaning of the term mucopurulent

A) mixture of pus and mucus
B) viral inflammation of the mucous membrane
C) agent used to burn or scar a tissue

Answer 1

The term 'mucopurulent' refers to a mixture of pus and mucus, a discharge commonly associated with infections affecting mucous membranes.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct meaning of the term mucopurulent is mixture of pus and mucus. This term is often used in the medical field to describe a type of discharge that occurs during infection or inflammation where mucus, a slimy substance produced by mucous membranes, is combined with pus, which is an accumulation of dead pathogens, neutrophils, tissue fluid, and other bystander cells.

Mucopurulent discharges can be observed in various infections that affect mucous membranes, such as in the respiratory system where mucus normally functions to trap pathogens and particles. However, excessive mucus production in response to an infection may mix with pus, resulting in a mucopurulent characteristic.