mucosa
Wet body lining
Mucosa is the moist tissue lining body cavities and passages that connect to the outside—the mouth, nose, lungs, digestive tract, and genitals.
Also called mucous membrane.
The adjective is mucosal: The virus enters through mucosal surfaces.
Mucosa secretes mucus, which protects and lubricates these internal surfaces.
Tissue covering body surfaces
- liningInterior fabric layer
- submucosaTissue beneath mucosal layer
- basement membraneExtracellular matrix beneath epithelia
- connective tissueSupportive biological matrix
villi · microvilli · columnar · squamous · stratified · tissue regeneration · oral · nasal
Relating to digestive tract
- esophagusFood tube to stomach
- stomachDigestive organ below chest
- intestineDigestive tract organ
- duodenumInitial small intestine
jejunum · ileum · colon · absorption · digestion · peristalsis · chyme · gastric
Proteins targeting pathogens
- macrophagesLarge pathogen-engulfing immune cells
- neutrophilsPathogen-engulfing white blood cells
- antigensImmunity-triggering foreign substances
- pathogensDisease-causing microorganisms
inflammation · permeability · microbiome · flora · tolerance
Of the nose
- sinusAir-filled cranial cavity
- bronchialOf lung airways
- trachealOf the windpipe
- pharyngealOf the throat cavity
laryngeal · ciliated · cilia · airway · pulmonary · olfactory · turbinates · nasopharynx
Secreting organs
- lubricationCoating to reduce friction
- salivaMouth's digestive secretion
- serousOf thin, watery secretion
- exocrineSecreting externally via ducts
viscous · phlegm · sputum · nasal discharge · rhinorrhea · secretory · salivary · mucin
epithelium
Tissue covering body surfaces
- liningInterior fabric layer
- submucosaTissue beneath mucosal layer
- basement membraneExtracellular matrix beneath epithelia
connective tissue · villi · microvilli · columnar · squamous · stratified · tissue regeneration · oral · nasal · gastric
gastrointestinal
Relating to digestive tract
duodenum · jejunum · ileum · colon · absorption · digestion · peristalsis · chyme · gastric · enteric
antibodies
Proteins targeting pathogens
- macrophagesLarge pathogen-engulfing immune cells
- neutrophilsPathogen-engulfing white blood cells
- antigensImmunity-triggering foreign substances
pathogens · inflammation · permeability · microbiome · flora · tolerance
nasal
Of the nose
pharyngeal · laryngeal · ciliated · cilia · airway · pulmonary · olfactory · turbinates · nasopharynx · oropharynx
glands
Secreting organs
- lubricationCoating to reduce friction
- salivaMouth's digestive secretion
- serousOf thin, watery secretion
exocrine · viscous · phlegm · sputum · nasal discharge · rhinorrhea · secretory · salivary · mucin · hydration
- anatomybrain, heart, bones, liver, stomach
- digestionstomach acid, swallowing, digesting, chewing, digestion
- Nosenose, nostril, nostrils, nares, nasal
- mouth anatomytongue, teeth, palate, lips, gums
- stomachstomach, stomach acid, gastric acid, stomach lining, fundus
- body coveringsskin, hide, pelt, fur, hair
- mucous membranesSlick tissue lining cavities
- mucosal inflammationIrritation of moist linings