Histological analysis of the distribution pattern of glandular tissue in normal inferior nasal turbinates.
Nasal turbinates play an important role in nasal physiology. These functions include the important function of particle filtration by the mucocilliary system. Many nasal mucosal diseases, such as rhinitis and rhinosinusitis, are directly related with structural alterations of the mucosal lining of the turbinates.


OBJECTIVE
To study the distribution pattern of the glandular epithelium of the lamina propria in the normal lower nasal turbinate mucosa of the anterior, medium and posterior portions.


METHODS
A prospective study in which small linear fragment of the lower nasal turbinate was removed from ten patients undergoing aesthetic nose surgery. The slides were hematoxilin-eosin stained, examined histologically and photographed. Glandular epithelium was delimited individually, the total area of the lamina propria on the anterior, medium and posterior portions of nasal turbinates was calculated (microm2).


RESULTS
There was no statistically significant difference in the distribution pattern of the glandular epithelium of the lamina propria.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed no predominance of glandular epithelium distribution in anterior and posterior portions of lower nasal turbinates in normal subjects.
FCMSCSP, Brazil.
Ieda
I
Millas
Bianca Maria
BM
Liquidato
José Eduardo Lutaif
JE
Dolci
José Humberto Tavares Guerreiro
JH
Fregnani
José Rafael
JR
Macéa
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D014420:Turbinates / Q000033:anatomy & histology*