[The morphology of endonasal cavernous tissue with special reference to muscular cushion formation. A light and transmission electron microscopy study].

Nasal "cavernous" tissue is widely accepted as a key structure for the tumefactive mechanism inside the nose; still there is no common understanding of the structural composition of this special tissue. In the present paper the authors demonstrate the results of their histological and transmission electronmicroscopic findings in human nasal "cavernous" tissue, especially referring to the structural and ultra-structural pattern of the so-called muscular pads or "cushion". Serial sections revealed that these structures occur at the transition of communicating vessels; their muscular coat shows a different and irregular pattern, compared to the vascular wall structure of other parts of nasal "cavernous" tissue. Ultrastructural examination confirmed the impression of a variable and complex orientation of smooth muscle cells within the muscular "cushions". The cytoplasmic components, however, were the same as in other smooth muscle cells of nasal "cavernous" tissue. Localisation and structure of muscular "cushions" imply their functional significance for tumescence of the nasal mucosa in a variety of rhinological disorders. Therefore, the authors suggest to include these special features in therapeutic considerations on the treatment of congested nose. Evaluation of the neurovegetative regulation of this tissue could be a step in the right direction.