title: The endoscopic study of human middle ear mucociliary transport.
abstract: The mucociliary clearance (MCC) is an important defence mechanism of the middle ear. The mucociliary transport (MCT) is a part of MCC. We measured the duration of MCT and visualised its routes in middle ears of 31 patients (mean age 45 years; range 7-61 years; SD 11.6) with intact tympanic membrane, with ventilated middle ears and without a history of prolonged otitis media. The transition time of indigo carmine dye from the promontory mucosa to the middle ear orifice of the Eustachian tube (ET) was observed with a rigid 30°, 1.7-mm-diameter tympanoscope. The dye took an average of 7 min (range 4.5-15 min; SD 3.4; median 4.5) to reach the ET orifice in 25 (81 %) patients. Three main ciliary pathways were detected: (1) below and parallel to the tensor tympani muscle; (2) downwards, anterior to the round window, and then ascending to the ET; and (3) straight across the promontory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Satakunta Central Hospital, Sairaalantie 3, 28500, Pori, Finland. jaana.ilomaki@satshp.fi.
authors.forename: Jaana H
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7495-1533
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ilomäki
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Central Hospital of Åland, Åland, Finland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karhuketo
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tampere University Hospital and University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Vasama
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tampere University Hospital and University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kääriäinen
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tampere University Hospital and University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rautiainen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005064:Eustachian Tube / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009079:Mucociliary Clearance / Q000502:physiology*; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000502:physiology*; D012405:Round Window, Ear / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D013719:Tensor Tympani / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Endoscopy; Human tympanic cavity; Middle ear; Mucociliary clearance; Mucociliary transport; Tympanoscopy