Scanning electron microscopy of the human nasal mucosa.

Nasal biopsies are taken from normals and from patients suffering from perennial rhinitis, nasal polyps, hay fever or atrophic rhinitis. The biopsies from the inferior nasal turbinate are studied in a scanning electron microscope. In conclusion, allergic reactions have only a slight, direct influence on the ultrastructure of the mucous membrane. Contrary to this, the surface of the nasal mucosa is characteristically altered in atrophic rhinitis. By chance it was observed how flagellated bacteria invades the mucous membrane by fastening to the epithelial cells, which consequently are expelled.