ULTRASTRUCTURE OF NORMAL HUMAN MIDDLE EAR MUCOSA - PRELIMINARY REPORT

The mucoperiosteal lining of the normal human middle ear cleft was studied with electron microscopy. The fundamental structure of the epithelium consisted of ciliated, non-ciliated and basal cells as seen in the respiratory mucosa. No goblet cells were found in our material which was limited to the promontory and the covering of the ear ossicles. Some of the ciliated cells contained large electron dense granules and smaller dark granules. Both granules were enclosed by a limiting membrane. The large granules were also seen in the nonciliated cells. The possible significance of the basal cells which are situated between the epithelial cells and the basement membrane were discussed. © 1969, SAGE Publications. All rights reserved.