Tomoda K, Yamashita T, Kumazawa T
Auris Nasus Larynx. 1985;12 Suppl 1:S169-72. doi: 10.1016/s0385-8146(85)80138-3.
Scanning electron microscopic study of human Eustachian tube epithelium showed that numerous secretory cells and compound cilia were observed mostly in children while with advancing age squamous or cuboidal cells were largely increased in contrast with decreasing number of ciliated and secretory cells. In the cases of otitis media with effusion, findings were characterized by the mucous hypersecretion and abnormal cilia. Thus, mucociliary function of the tubal epithelium may easily be impaired in children and elderly adults, and the accumulation of fluid may consequently be induced in the middle ear cavity.
对人类咽鼓管上皮的扫描电子显微镜研究表明，在儿童中大多观察到大量分泌细胞和复合纤毛，而随着年龄增长，鳞状或立方体细胞大量增加，与之形成对比的是纤毛细胞和分泌细胞数量减少。在分泌性中耳炎病例中，表现为黏液分泌过多和纤毛异常。因此，咽鼓管上皮的黏液纤毛功能在儿童和老年人中可能容易受损，进而可能导致中耳腔内积液。
