INTERVASCULAR SMOOTH-MUSCLE FIBERS AND MUSCULAR BOLSTERS IN NASAL SWELL BODIES OF HUMANS

There is strong clinical evidence that the cavernous tissue (swell bod ies) of nasal mucosa plays an important role in congestion of the nose . Still, the complex mechanisms responsible for the unique behavior of these vessels have not yet been identified, and even the morphology o f these structures is still a matter of controversy. The present study was performed on nasal mucosal specimens from inferior turbinates of humans by means of histology and transmission electron microscopy. Bes ides the evaluation of the vascular wall structure of the nasal swell bodies, special attention was given to two morphological peculiarities : intervascular smooth muscle fibers and muscular bolsters. Intervascu lar smooth muscle fibers are composed of bundles of smooth muscle cell s varying in diameter between 14 and 35 mu m; they are attached to the muscular coat of the vessels of the cavernous tissue. Muscular bolste rs are distinct protrusions of the vascular wall in nasal swell bodies ; they are found not only at the transition between different vessels, but also irregularly within the course of veins of the cavernous tiss ue. The authors report on their understanding of the functional signif icance of intervascular smooth muscle fibers and muscular bolsters wit hin the cavernous tissue for swelling mechanisms in the nose and discu ss their results in light of the literature.