Which word is the adjective form of membrane?

• A. Membrane-like
• B. Membranous
• C. Epithelial
• D. Fibrous

Answer: (B)

Forming adjectives from a noun often uses the suffix -ous to create a single, descriptive word. From membrane, the standard single-word adjective is membranous. It means relating to a membrane or resembling one, and it’s the terminology you’ll see most often in anatomy and pathology to describe tissues or structures that have the characteristics of a membrane.

Membrane-like is understandable and conveys a similar idea, but it’s a two-word phrase rather than a single, established adjective, so membranous is preferred in formal medical terminology. Epithelial describes the epithelium and is a different tissue type, not specifically about membranes. Fibrous refers to fiber-rich or threadlike tissue, again not about membranes.