Mucosa (Human Anatomy): Image, Functions, Diseases and Treatments

The soft tissue which lines the body's respiratory, reproductive, and digestive systems is known as mucosa. Additionally, it is referred to as a mucous membrane. The three layers of mucosa are the epithelium, lamina propria, and muscularis mucosae.. Immunity is significantly influenced by it.Mucous membrane is also known as mucosa. Your body's cavities and internal organs that are exposed to outside debris are lined by mucosa.

These organs and cavities are lubricated by the mucous membrane, which also shields them from invading microorganisms as well as abrasive particles and body fluids. Your body's biggest barrier of defence is made up of mucosa, which you have more than than 200 times more of than skin. Additionally, it plays a part in absorption, particularly in the gastrointestinal system where it aids in digesting.

Mucosa has three layers

The mucosa's outermost layer is called the epithelial layer. The mucosa gets its name from the thick, gel-like mucus that epithelial cells create to shield your body from irritants. Because various sections of your body need different arrangements of these cells, they do. Cells may be stacked in columns or laid out like bricks, and there may be one or more layers of them. They often replace themselves while removing invading particles and have a high cell turnover rate. Some have cilia, which are tiny hairs that aid in the removal of foreign objects.

The lamina propria, a flexible connective tissue, is where the epithelium is attached. This is the mucosa's middle layer. Nerves, veins, and structural protein molecules make up the lamina propria. It holds the cells in place and binds them to the smooth muscle below while supplying blood to the epithelium. Its neurons squeeze and stretch in response to changes in muscle tension to alter the epithelium's shape as required. Additionally, it supports a range of immune cells that hunt down and eliminate infections.

The surface of smooth muscle known as muscularis mucosae is indeed the mucosa's innermost layer. It is thicker in different parts of the digestive system, although it is most active in the stomach. The mucosa seems to be kept in motion by a constant motor function provided by the muscularis mucosae. This may make it easier for the mucosa to expand and contract when the digestive system's numerous organs work. By maintaining the action of the surface's hair-like cilia, it may also assist the mucosa in carrying out its cleaning duties.

Your body has mucous membranes in every system, including the digestive, respiratory, reproductive, and sensory organ systems

The mucosa largely performs immune system-related tasks for your body. It protects against outside particles, traps them in its gummy mucus, and flushes them out. The lubricant protects against damage while the immune cells and natural antibiotics in the mucus guard against germs. The mucosa (also known as the endometrium) in your uterus thickens to preserve brand-new eggs and sheds to get rid of unfertilized eggs.

The mucosa sometimes also absorbs. For instance, it aids in the breakdown of nutrients in your digestive system and scents in your nose.

Your body has mucous membranes in every system, including the digestive, respiratory, reproductive, and sensory organ systems.

• White lesions: Thick, white spots that appear on the tongue, mouth floor, and inside the cheeks, as well as gums are the hallmark of leukoplakia. These repairs won't disappear with scraping.
• Candidiasis (yeast infection): This condition is characterised by a yeast infection of the skin or mucous membranes. Yeast infections can affect the lips, cheeks, cuticles, genitalia, skin folds, and lips.
• Canker sores: Canker sores are tiny ulcers that can develop on the tongue, cheeks, and lips. A canker sore has a red border around its yellowish core, and it usually heals in a week or so.
• Herpes: The herpes simplex virus (HSV) causes sores and blisters to develop in the mouth (HSV-1) and the vaginal region (HSV-2) that scab over and eventually disappear. HSV is most commonly spread through direct physical contact, such as kissing or sexual activity. HSV transmission does not require the presence of obvious lesions.
• Behcet's syndrome: The signs and symptoms of this extremely rare illness include joint pain and blood vessel inflammation. People who are infected develop uncomfortable sores on their tonsils, lips, tongue, cheeks, roof of their mouth, and throat. Additionally common are genital, ocular, and cutaneous sores. Although the exact cause of the issue is still unknown, autoimmune diseases and genetic predispositions are both thought to play a role.
• Traumatic ulcer: The most frequent kind of mouth ulcer is the traumatic ulcer. The most typical mechanical harm is a bite, although additional possibilities include burns, radiation, and chemical assaults. Common symptoms include inflammation, pain, redness, and swelling. A yellow-white fibrinous fluid may fill the ulcer's interior.
• Stomach polyps: An abnormal growth of tissue that may appear anywhere in the stomach is a polyp in the lining. Although the majority of stomach polyps are benign, some are more likely to become malignant.
• Uterine polyp (uterus): A benign tumour that grows on the uterine lining is known as a uterine polyp (uterus).
• Colorectal polyps: these are clumps of cells that may form on the rectum or colon lining.
• Barrett's oesophagus: The lining of the swallowing tube (oesophagus), which connects the mouth to the stomach, is damaged by acid reflux, thickening and turning red as a result.
• Eosinophilic esophagitis: It is a syndrome that gradually weakens the immune system. When you have this disorder, eosinophils, a type of white blood cell, build up in the lining of the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach.
• Intestinal metaplasia: The cells lining the upper digestive tract, frequently the stomach or the oesophagus (food pipe), undergo intestinal metaplasia, which is a transformation (food pipe). The name 'intestinal' metaplasia comes from the cells' transformation into a more resemblance to the cells that line the intestines.
• Ménétrier's disease: The excessive mucosal hypertrophy and protein loss that characterise this condition. It is connected to stomach neoplasia, which is highly uncommon but quite harmful.
• Crohn's condition: Crohn's disease is one of the many inflammatory bowel conditions (IBD). It results in inflammation of the gastrointestinal system, which may lead to malnutrition, weakness, and bloody, watery diarrhoea.
• Celiac disease: Celiac disease is a condition brought on by gluten intolerance. Gluten-sensitive enteropathy, nontropical sprue, and celiac disease are further names for celiac disease.
• Illnesses characterised by persistent (chronic) inflammation of the tissues of the digestive system are referred to as 'inflammatory bowel diseases' (IBD).
• Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP): it is a chronic inflammatory condition that responds to steroid therapy. It is considered that the pancreas is being attacked by the immune system as the cause of AIP.
• Autoimmune hepatitis: it is hepatitis brought on by the immune system. Autoimmune hepatitis is a condition in which the immune system unintentionally damages liver cells. The cause of autoimmune hepatitis is still unclear, despite the fact that genetic and environmental factors often interact over time in the development of the condition.
• Gastritis: It is a term used to describe a number of diseases that all include inflammation of the stomach lining. The two most typical causes of gastritis, an inflammation of the stomach lining, are infection with the same bacteria that often causes stomach ulcers and long-term use of certain painkillers. Alcoholism in excess increases the likelihood of getting gastritis.
• Cystitis: Cystitis is the medical term for bladder discomfort. Inflammation is the term used to describe when a part of the body becomes red, swollen, and hot. Another option is pain.
• Cervicitis: Cervicitis is an inflammation of the cervix, the little, lower portion of the uterus that attaches to the vagina. Cervicitis may be indicated by abnormal vaginal discharge, pelvic discomfort, and menstrual cycle bleeding.
• Cholecystitis: Cholecystitis is the medical term for gallbladder inflammation. On the right side of the belly, below the liver, is where the gallbladder, which resembles a little pear. The small intestine receives the secretion of bile, a digesting fluid that is kept in the gallbladder.Esophagitis is the medical term for esophageal inflammation, which affects the muscular tube that transports food from the mouth to the stomach.
• Bronchitis: This condition is brought on by inflammation of the bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from the lungs. A typical sign of bronchitis is a cough that produces thick, black mucus. Both acute and chronic bronchitis are conceivable.
• Sinusitis is the medical term for swelling or inflammation of the tissue lining the sinuses. Sinuses are bony chambers that are present in the forehead, cheeks, and space in between the eyes of all individuals. In order to lubricate the nasal passages, they create mucus. In turn, this helps to provide defence against dust, pollutants, and airborne allergens.
• Gastroenteritis: Diarrhoea and vomiting are signs of gastroenteritis, sometimes referred to as the 'stomach flu.' The most typical cause of these symptoms is gastroenteritis.
• Proctitis: Proctitis is the medical term for rectum lining inflammation. A muscular tube called the rectum protrudes from the last portion of your colon. The route via which faeces exit the body is the rectum.
• Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES): Also known as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, this rare condition is characterised by the growth of one or more tumours in the pancreas or the upper part of the small intestine. These growths are referred to as gastrinomas. These tumours generate a lot of the hormone gastrin.
• Peptic ulcer disease (PUD): The development of open sores on the stomach and upper small intestine walls is a defining feature of peptic ulcer disease. The main indication of a peptic ulcer is stomach pain.

• Blood tests: A blood sample may be taken in order to identify the underlying cause of your mucosal issue.
• Bioscopy: A little piece of the diseased tissue is scraped out and inspected under a microscope for thrush or herpes virus symptoms.
  An endoscope is a long, thin, flexible tube with a camera at the end that your doctor may use to examine the region and maybe take a biopsy if the thrush has progressed into the oesophagus (tissue sample).
• Pelvic exam: A doctor may do a pelvic exam on a woman who often has vaginal yeast infections to examine her cervix and vagina and collect some secretions for testing.

• Radial forearm flap: A radial forearm flap surgery involves taking tissue from the patient's forearm and grafting it onto the tongue or roof of the mouth to speed up the healing of a damaged structure
• Fibula free flap: In this treatment, the patient's lower leg's bone, soft tissue, and blood vessels are taken out and utilised to rebuild his or her mouth. This treatment may be done after a total surgical removal of the tongue.
• Rectus flap: This surgical technique involves transplanting tissue from the abdominal wall to the tongue or the roof of the mouth, two areas that need repair.
• Radiotherapy: Hemiglossectomy and radiation treatment are used to treat cancer patients.
• Scraping: This simple treatment involves scraping the tongue. The operation results in the shaving down of the swollen papillae. A hairy tongue might also be less noticeable with this technique.

• Steroids for reducing inflammation of Mucosa: The anti-inflammatory effects of steroids work by suppressing the activity of inflammatory cells, including white blood cells and macrophages. This can lead to reduced inflammation and improved healing. Steroids can also reduce the production of cytokines, which are proteins that play a role in the progression of inflammatory disease. for example, prednisone is a type of steroid and is often used to treat inflammation caused by such conditions as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease.
• Analgesics for pain in Mucosa: Analgesics such as tramadol and codeine are often effective at relieving pain in mucosa, but they can also have side effects such as drowsiness and nausea. Prescription medications such as ibuprofen and paracetamol can also be effective in reducing pain, but they are usually less effective than analgesics that are available over the counter
• Muscle relaxants for stiffness in Mucosa: The most common muscle relaxant used for this purpose is caffeine. Diazepam is a type of muscle relaxant that is available over the counter, while lorazepam is a type of muscle relaxant that needs a prescription.
• Antibiotics for infection in Mucosa: Antibiotics are often used to treat infections in mucosa, including infections of the sinuses, throat, and lungs. In some cases, antibiotics can also be effective at treating infections in the gut (gastrointestinal) tract. For example, amoxicillin is a type of antibiotic that is available over the counter.
• Antivirals for treating infection of Mucosa: Antivirals are medications that are used to treat infections, including infections of the mucous membrane (eg, bronchitis, laryngitis, sinus infection). In some cases, antivirals can also be effective at treating infections in other parts of the body (eg, lung infection). For example, acyclovir, gancyclovir are types of antiviral that is available over the counter.
• Chemotherapeutic medicines for Mucosa: Chemotherapeutic medicines are medications that are used to treat cancer. Chemotherapeutic medicines can be divided into two groups: chemotherapy drugs and biotherapy drugs.
• Chemotherapy drugs include such medications as cisplatin, carboplatin, and vincristine.
• Biotherapy drugs include such medications as interferon alfa-2b, interleukin-2, and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs).

Your mucous membranes defend you when everything is working as it should, acting as a first line of protection against abrasion and infection. But persistent, chronic inflammation may start to undermine this defence and exhaust the immune cells in your mucosa, weakening your immune system. If you can, treat chronic inflammatory disorders to preserve your mucosa.