The entire surface of human nasal mucosa from two fresh autopsy specimens (four nasal cavities) were examined with scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The variations in length and thickness of the cilia present on different parts of the nasal cavity were evaluated. We conclude that the inferior part of the nasal cavity is the most important area for human nasal mucociliary transport. The fine internal structural features of the cilia that we observed were similar to those reported by other authors.
YoshiharaT., KandaT., YakuY.An ultrastructural study of the nasal mucosa by rapid freezing and freeze-substitution.Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh)101: 96, 1986.
3.
MygindN.Nasal Allergy, ed 2.London: Blackwell Scientific Publication, 1979, pp. 9–13.
4.
TakasakaT., SatoM., OnodaraA.Atypical cilia of the human nasal mucosa.Ann Otol Rhino Laryngol89: 37, 1980.
5.
PedersenH., MygindN.Absence of axonemal arms in nasal mucosa cilia in Kartagener's syndrome.Nature262: 494–495, 1976.
6.
KarlssonG.The mucosa in immunodeficience.Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh)100: 456, 1985.
7.
XuG., BuG.The study of morphology and ultrastructure of nasal mucosa in four kinds of rhinopathy.Chin J Otolaryngol20: 106, 1985.
8.
KärjäJ., NuutinenJ., KarjalaminenP.Radioisotopic method for measurement of nasal mucociliary activity.Arch Otolaryngol108: 99, 1982.
9.
KawabataI., PaparellaM.Atypical cilia in normal human and guinea pig middle ear mucosa.Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh)67: 511, 1969.
10.
KawakamiM.Symposium I: Mucociliary transport—fundamental and clinical aspects, part 1, ultrastructure of mucociliary transport system.J Jpn Broncho-esophagol Soc36: 60, 1985.