Anatomy of the chinchilla bulla and eustachian tube: I. Gross and microscopic study

Yutaka Hanamure, David J. Lim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

The middle ear mucosa and eustachian tube of the normal chinchilla were studied quantitatively and under light microscopy to determine the distribution of each cell type of the lining epithelium and subepithelial gland. The middle ear mucosa consisted of columnar epithelium, cuboidal epithelium, and squamous epithelium. The lining epithelium of the eustachlan tube was ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium. These epithelia were composed of ciliated, secretory, nonciliated (nonsecretory), and basal cells. The density of the ciliated cells was highest in the columnar epithelium area of the transitional zone of the middle ear mucosa. However, the density of the secretory cells was highest in the pharyngeal orifice of the eustachian tube. The nonciliated cell density was highest in the squamous epithelium area of the middle ear mucosa and decreased progressively toward the tympanic orifice of the eustachian tube. In the eustachlan tube, the nonciliated cell density was highest in the pharyngeal portion of the eustachian tube, especially in the upper portion of the lateral wall. The subepithelial glands were tubuloacinar mixed glands composed of serous demilunes and mucous acini. The glands were localized primarily in the pharyngeal orifice and pharyngeal portion of the eustachian tube, and their ductal openings were present primarily in the inferior portion of the eustachian tube.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)127-143
Number of pages17
JournalAmerican Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Medicine and Surgery
Volume8
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1987

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Otorhinolaryngology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Anatomy of the chinchilla bulla and eustachian tube: I. Gross and microscopic study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this