mucosale

Mucosale is a term used in medical and biological contexts to denote a relation to the mucosa, the moist membrane that lines many body cavities and passages that communicate with the exterior. In English-language texts the standard adjective is mucosal; mucosale is the form found in Italian and some other languages.

The mucosa consists of an epithelial layer, a underlying lamina propria of connective tissue, and a thin muscularis mucosae in many sites. It lines the gastrointestinal, respiratory, and genitourinary tracts, as well as the nasal passages, oral cavity, and the conjunctiva of the eye. Mucosal membranes perform barrier and immune functions and secrete mucus produced by goblet cells and other secretory cells, providing lubrication and helping trap pathogens.

Clinically, the integrity of mucosal tissues is important for health. Disruption can increase susceptibility to infection and inflammation. Conditions affecting mucosal surfaces include mucositis from chemotherapy or radiotherapy, inflammatory bowel diseases, gastritis, rhinitis, and various urogenital infections. Mucosal immunity involves specialized lymphoid tissues (often grouped as MALT) and secretory immunoglobulin A, forming a first line of defense at entry points.

Mucosal tissues are also targets for vaccines designed to induce immune responses at the sites of entry. The term mucosale is less common in English usage, where mucosal is preferred; nevertheless, mucosale appears in multilingual or specialized medical writings to convey the same general meaning. See also mucosa, mucous membranes, and mucosal immunity.