[Cavernous tissue of the nasal mucosa].

The "cavernous" tissue of the nasal mucosa possesses a key function for different physiological and pathological conditions. In the present study we report about our own examinations on the "cavernous" tissue of the rabbit nasal mucosa. The specimen (nasal septum and anterior concha) were fixated by vascular perfusion via the carotid arteries, carefully excised and prepared for light and electron microscopy. Our observations indicate that the tunica propria of the nasal mucosa is covered by large, sinusoidal veins. Most of these vessels possess a rather thin vasvular wall. Some vessels, however, could be identified that had at first been regarded as arteries. A closer inspection, however, revealed the venous character of these muscularised vessels, which may correspond to the so called "Drosselvenen" described by Körner 50 years ago. These veins are supposed to possess a particular anatomical structure in their vascular wall called "sphincter", "muscular thickening", "cushion", or "muscular bolster" by various authors--which enables them to ease or to prevent the loss of fluid from the cavernous tissue. All our morphological findings as well as the functional significance of these peculiar structures are compared and discussed with the appropriate literature.