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{{FleissP HodgesF VanHoweRS 1998}}
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 [[Foreskin|prepuce]], it is sometimes referred to as the '''inner mucosa'''. It starts at the mucocutaneous junction at the tip of the [[Foreskin|prepuce]] and continues to the coronal sulcus (groove behind the [[glans penis]]), where it meets the epithelium of the glans and penile shaft.<ref name="cold-taylor1999">{{ColdCJ TaylorJR 1999}}</ref> The preputial mucosa is devoid of hair, as is the cutaneous surface.<ref name="taylor1996">{{TaylorJR LockwoodAP TaylorAJ 1996}}</ref>
Fleiss et al. (1998) report 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.<ref name="fleiss-hodges-vanhowe1998">{{REFjournal |last=Fleiss |init=P |author-link=Paul M. Fleiss |last2=Hodges |init2=F |author2-link=Frederick M. Hodges |last3=Van Howe |init3=RS |author3-link=Robert S. Van Howe |title=Immunological functions of the human prepuce |journal=Sex Trans Infect |date=FleissP HodgesF VanHoweRS 1998-10 |volume=74 |issue=5 |pages=364-67 |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1758142/pdf/v074p00364.pdf |quote= |pubmedID=10195034 |pubmedCID= |DOI= |accessdate=2019-12-01}}</ref>
After circumcision, the residual [[mucosa]] is found between the [[circumcision scar]] and the [[glans penis]]. The [[mucosa]] is no longer moisturized by [[transudation]] from the [[foreskin]] and becomes desiccated.