title: Do mucosal folds in the eustachian tube function as microturbinates?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mucosal folds in the eustachian tube (ET) may function as microturbinates and provide protection and clearance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen whole-mount temporal bone ET specimens (nine pediatric and 10 adult) were evaluated in the present study. Five specific localizations for each case were selected. The cartilaginous segment of the ET was divided vertically and the length of mucosal surfaces and the number of mucosal folds of anterior and posterior walls on the histological sections were analyzed with MetaMorph 7.5.2.0 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The length of the mucosal surface of the posterior wall of the ET was longer than the anterior wall (P < .05). In pediatric specimens, the posterior wall had more mucosal folds than adult specimens (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Microturbinates in the posterior wall of the ET may provide important protection and clearance functions for children and play a role in the pathogenesis of eustachian tube dysfunction
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Selcuklu Faculty of Medicine, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kayhan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ozturk
authors.forename: Carl H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Snyderman
authors.forename: Isamu
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sando
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005064:Eustachian Tube / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009079:Mucociliary Clearance / Q000502:physiology; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D014420:Turbinates / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult