Important note: Information in this Q&A was accurate in 2008. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.Why is the inside of the mouth considered a mucous membrane that can absorb HIV, but the labia minora are not, and are considered to be skin folds?
Good question.
The labia minora are covered with the same type of covering as the skin, a squamous epithelium. These covering cells are sort of like flat tiles, tightly joined together to form a good mechanical barrier against the outside world. The "tiles" are occasionally interrupted by sweat and sebaceous glands.
The lining of the mouth and the esophagus are very similar, but they have abundant mucus-secreting glands and minor salivary glands which, by definition, change the category from "skin" to "mucosa."
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