The mucociliary activity of the upper respiratory tract. III. A functional and morphological study on human and animal material with special reference to maxillary sinus diseases.

Local mucociliary activity (mucociliary wave frequency) was recorded in vivo and in vitro in maxillary sinus diseases. Activity was fairly normal even in cases with chronic purulent sinusitis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) sometimes showed a quantitative reduction of cilia. The mucociliary wave frequency was mostly about 1000 waves/min, and there was no in vivo/in vitro discrepancy. Antral mucosa was compared to adenoids, nasal polyps and healthy rabbit trachea. The mucociliary wave frequency was about the same in all materials.