[Histological study of mucous membranes in the human nasal septum].

Histological changes in the mucous membrane of the human nasal septum in relation to deviation of the septum were investigated in this study. The mucous membranes of both the concave and convex sides of the deviated septum, were separately studied in 16 parts of the septum, which had been divided 5 ways in the anterior-posterior direction and 4 ways from top to bottom in the vertical direction. Changes in the mucosa were also studied according to differences in age and gender. Specimens for this study were collected from 74 cadavers, including the autopsied cases of 44 males and 30 females, ranging in age from a prenatal stage of 22 weeks up to 84 years, from which cases with other nasal or paranasal diseases were excluded. The mucosa of the concave side consistently showed hypertrophic change in the height of the subepithelial mucosa, the area of mucous glands and the thickness of the muco-periosteum in each slice. This was assumed to be a finding influenced by prolonged septal deviation. Atrophy of the mucous epithelium and metaplasia into the squamous cell epithelium were frequently found in the middle portion and the population of goblet cells in the epithelium was increased predominantly in the slice from the posterior and bottom portions. The heights of the mucous epithelium and subepithelial mucosa were lower and the population of goblet cells decreased in relation to aging. However, atrophy of the mucous epithelium and increased thickness of the muco-periosteal layer predominated in the aged subjects. Sexual difference was revealed in findings of the height of the mucous epithelium, glandular area and thickness of the muco-periosteum on the concave side of the septum. The height of the mucous epithelium was higher in females but the glandular area and thickness of the muco-periosteum was much more increased in males.