Mucosa

The mucous membranes (or mucosae; singular: mucosa) are linings of mostly endodermal origin, covered in epithelium, and are involved in absorption and secretion. They line various body cavities that are exposed to the external environment and internal organs. It is at several places continuous with skin: at the nostrils, the lips, the ears, the genital area, and the anus. The sticky, thick fluid secreted by the mucous membranes and gland is termed mucus. The term mucous membrane refers to where they are found in the body and not every mucous membrane secretes mucus.

Body cavities featuring mucous membrane include most of the respiratory system. The glans penis (head of the penis) and glans clitoris and the inside of the prepuce (foreskin) and clitoral hood are mucous membranes, not skin.

==Effects of stress on mucosa]]

Components

 * Epithelium
 * Lamina propria
 * Smooth muscle/Muscularis mucosa/ (GI tract)

Types of mucosa (incomplete)

 * Buccal mucosa
 * Gastric mucosa
 * Intestinal mucosa
 * Olfactory mucosa
 * Oral mucosa
 * bronchial mucosa
 * Endometrium is the mucosa of the uterus