MORPHOLOGY OF ENDONASAL CAVERNOUS TISSUE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO MUSCULAR PADS OR CUSHIONS

Nasal ''cavernous'' tissue is widely accepted as a key structure for t he tumefactive mechanism inside the nose; still there is no common und erstanding of the structural composition of this special tissue. In th e present paper the authors demonstrate the results of their histologi cal and transmission electronmicroscopic findings in human nasal ''cav ernous'' tissue, especially referring to the structural and ultrastruc tural pattern of the so-called muscular pads or ''cushion''. Serial se ctions revealed that these structures occur at the transition of commu nicating vessels; their muscular coat shows a different and irregular pattern, compared to the vascular wall structure of other parts of nas al ''cavernous'' tissue. Ultrastructural examination confirmed the imp ression of a variable and complex orientation of smooth muscle cells w ithin the muscular ''cushions''. The cytoplasmic components, however, were the same as in other smooth muscle cells of nasal ''cavernous'' t issue. Localisation and structure of muscular ''cushions'' imply their functional significance for tumescence of the nasal mucosa in a varie ty of rhinological disorders. Therefore, the authors suggest to includ e these special features in therapeutic considerations on the treatmen t of congested nose. Evaluation of the neurovegetative regulation of t his tissue could be a step in the right direction.