Preputial mucosa
Encyclopedia
The preputial mucosa of the penis
is the epithelium of the inside of the prepuce
, or foreskin
. To differentiate it from the cutaneous skin
of the outside of the prepuce
, it is sometimes referred to as the inner mucosa. It starts at the ridged band
of the prepuce
and continues to the coronal sulcus (groove behind the glans penis
), where it meets the epithelium of the glans and penile shaft.
The preputial mucosa is devoid of hair, as is the cutaneous surface. The preputial mucosa contains fewer Langerhans cell
s than most mucosal epithelia (Weiss 1993). These cells secrete cytokine
s (a non-antibody
protein
that generates an immune response on contact with specific antigens), and are an essential part of the immune system
. According to one review (Fleiss 1998), the inner mucosa contains apocrine glands, which secrete cathepsin B
, lysozyme
, chymotrypsin
, neutrophil elastase, and hormones such as androsterone
. The first four substances have protective immunological functions. A histological
study (Taylor 1996), however, reported that the prepuce contains no apocrine (sweat) glands whatsoever.
Penis
The penis is a biological feature of male animals including both vertebrates and invertebrates...
is the epithelium of the inside of the prepuce
Prepuce
Prepuce may refer to:* The foreskin, which surrounds and protects the head of the penis* The clitoral hood, which surrounds and protects the head of the clitoris...
, or foreskin
Foreskin
In male human anatomy, the foreskin is a generally retractable double-layered fold of skin and mucous membrane that covers the glans penis and protects the urinary meatus when the penis is not erect...
. To differentiate it from the cutaneous skin
Skin
-Dermis:The dermis is the layer of skin beneath the epidermis that consists of connective tissue and cushions the body from stress and strain. The dermis is tightly connected to the epidermis by a basement membrane. It also harbors many Mechanoreceptors that provide the sense of touch and heat...
of the outside of the prepuce
Prepuce
Prepuce may refer to:* The foreskin, which surrounds and protects the head of the penis* The clitoral hood, which surrounds and protects the head of the clitoris...
, it is sometimes referred to as the inner mucosa. It starts at the ridged band
Ridged band
The term ridged band is a description of an area/band of wrinkly skin toward the end of the foreskin. The term ridged is used to describe the area instead of the more commonly used term "wrinkled". More particularly it refers to the "transitional area from the external to the internal surface ofthe...
of the prepuce
Prepuce
Prepuce may refer to:* The foreskin, which surrounds and protects the head of the penis* The clitoral hood, which surrounds and protects the head of the clitoris...
and continues to the coronal sulcus (groove behind the glans penis
Glans penis
The glans penis is the sensitive bulbous structure at the distal end of the penis. The glans penis is anatomically homologous to the clitoral glans of the female...
), where it meets the epithelium of the glans and penile shaft.
The preputial mucosa is devoid of hair, as is the cutaneous surface. The preputial mucosa contains fewer Langerhans cell
Langerhans cell
Langerhans cells are dendritic cells of the skin and mucosa, and contain large granules called Birbeck granules. They are present in all layers of the epidermis, but are most prominant in the stratum spinosum. They also occur in the papillary dermis, particularly around blood vessels, as well as...
s than most mucosal epithelia (Weiss 1993). These cells secrete cytokine
Cytokine
Cytokines are small cell-signaling protein molecules that are secreted by the glial cells of the nervous system and by numerous cells of the immune system and are a category of signaling molecules used extensively in intercellular communication...
s (a non-antibody
Antibody
An antibody, also known as an immunoglobulin, is a large Y-shaped protein used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects such as bacteria and viruses. The antibody recognizes a unique part of the foreign target, termed an antigen...
protein
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
that generates an immune response on contact with specific antigens), and are an essential part of the immune system
Immune system
An immune system is a system of biological structures and processes within an organism that protects against disease by identifying and killing pathogens and tumor cells. It detects a wide variety of agents, from viruses to parasitic worms, and needs to distinguish them from the organism's own...
. According to one review (Fleiss 1998), the inner mucosa contains apocrine glands, which secrete cathepsin B
Cathepsin B
Cathepsin B is an enzymatic protein belonging to the peptidase families. In humans, it is coded by the CTSB gene.- Function :...
, lysozyme
Lysozyme
Lysozyme, also known as muramidase or N-acetylmuramide glycanhydrolase, are glycoside hydrolases, enzymes that damage bacterial cell walls by catalyzing hydrolysis of 1,4-beta-linkages between N-acetylmuramic acid and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine residues in a peptidoglycan and between...
, chymotrypsin
Chymotrypsin
Chymotrypsin is a digestive enzyme that can perform proteolysis. Chymotrypsin preferentially cleaves peptide amide bonds where the carboxyl side of the amide bond is a tyrosine, tryptophan, or phenylalanine. These amino acids contain an aromatic ring in their sidechain that fits into a...
, neutrophil elastase, and hormones such as androsterone
Androsterone
Androsterone is a steroid hormone with weak androgenic activity. It is made in the liver from the metabolism of testosterone. Its beta-isomer is Epiandrosterone.-History:...
. The first four substances have protective immunological functions. A histological
Histology
Histology is the study of the microscopic anatomy of cells and tissues of plants and animals. It is performed by examining cells and tissues commonly by sectioning and staining; followed by examination under a light microscope or electron microscope...
study (Taylor 1996), however, reported that the prepuce contains no apocrine (sweat) glands whatsoever.
External links
- Cold CJ, Taylor JR. The prepuce. BJU Int 1999;83 Suppl. 1:34-44.
- Fleiss P, Hodges F, Van Howe RS. Immunological functions of the human prepuce. Sex Trans Inf 1998;74:364-367.
- Prakash S, Raghuram R, Venkatesan, et al. Sub-preputial wetness - Its nature. Ann Nat Med Sci (India) 1982;18(3):109-112.
- Taylor JR, Lockwood AP, Taylor AJ. The prepuce: specialized mucosa of the penis and its loss to circumcision. Br J Urol. 1996;77:591-5.
- Weiss GN, Sanders M, Westbrook KC. The distribution and density of langerhans cells in the human prepuce: Site of a diminished immune response? Isr J Med Sci. 1993 Jan 29(1):42-3.