Haldiman J T, Henk W G, Henry R W, Albert T F, Abdelbaki Y Z, Duffield D W
Anat Rec. 1984 Jun;209(2):219-30. doi: 10.1002/ar.1092090209.
In the bowhead whale, Balaena mysticetus, the mucosa of the major airways from the blowholes through the rostral portion of the larynx is lined with parakeratotic, pigmented, stratified squamous epithelium. Scattered enlarged connective tissue papillae of the lamina propria of the nasal vestibules and the palatopharyngeal sphincter contain encapsulated nerve endings. Abundant papillae in the mucosa covering the epiglottic and arytenoid cartilages contain similar nerve endings. The remainder of the laryngeal cavity and laryngeal sac is lined by a variably pigmented, stratified squamous epithelium, which is not keratinized. At the laryngotracheal junction the lining changes to ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium which continues through the trachea and principal bronchi. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicates that this epithelium is typically mammalian, with approximately half of the surface cells bearing cilia and slender microvilli. The remaining cells are mucus producing and have thicker microvilli. The valvular mass regulating the external nares consists of irregular, dense white fibrous connective tissue with numerous adipose cells and is penetrated by skeletal muscle cords ranging from 2-4 mm in diameter. The septal mass between the blowholes is composed of irregular, dense white fibrous connective tissue containing large tendinous bundles, clusters of adipose cells, and several large arteries and thick-walled veins. The lamina propria of the nasal vestibules is irregular, dense white fibrous connective tissue. That of the larynx is not as dense and contains proportionately more elastic fibers. The laryngeal sac does not contain elastic laminae, but does have a tunica muscularis of skeletal muscle bundles. Within the trachea and principal bronchi, the lamina propria possesses laminae of longitudinally oriented elastic fibers and simple, branched tubuloalveolar mucous glands. The nasal, laryngeal, tracheal, and bronchial cartilages are hyaline with vascular channels.
在弓头鲸（Balaena mysticetus）中，从喷气孔到喉吻部的主要气道黏膜内衬为不全角化、色素沉着的复层鳞状上皮。鼻前庭和腭咽括约肌固有层中散在的结缔组织乳头增大，含有被囊神经末梢。覆盖会厌软骨和杓状软骨的黏膜中有丰富的乳头，也含有类似的神经末梢腔的其余部分及喉囊内衬为色素沉着程度不一的复层鳞状上皮，未角化状上皮。在喉气管交界处，内衬变为纤毛假复层柱状上皮，并延续至气管和主支气管。扫描电子显微镜（SEM）显示，这种上皮是典型哺乳动物的上皮，约一半的表面细胞带有纤毛和细长的微绒毛。其余细胞分泌黏液，有较粗的微绒毛。调节外鼻孔的瓣膜团块由不规则的致密白色纤维结缔组织构成，有许多脂肪细胞，并有直径2 - 4毫米的骨骼肌索穿过。喷气孔之间的间隔团块由不规则的致密白色纤维结缔组织组成，含有大的腱束、脂肪细胞簇以及几条大动脉和厚壁静脉。鼻前庭的固有层是不规则的致密白色纤维结缔组织。喉的固有层没那么致密，含有相对较多的弹性纤维。喉囊没有弹性板，但有骨骼肌束的肌层。在气管和主支气管内，固有层有纵向排列的弹性纤维板和简单的分支管状泡状黏液腺。鼻软骨、喉软骨、气管软骨和支气管软骨均为透明软骨，有血管通道。
