MORPHOLOGICAL STUDIES OF EXCRETORY PASSAGE OF THE HUMAN NASAL GLAND, ESPECIALLY ON THE STRIATED PORTION

The author made histological and cystological studies of excretory passage of the nasal gland in on the mucous membrane of the human inferior nasal turbinate.The results were summarized as follows :1. It was confirmed that there were two morphological varieties in the human nasal glands, one with excretory duct and the other without duct.It was considered that, in the case of the latter, one withont an excretory duct, a tubular gland duct performed the role of an excretory duct.By many past investigators, it has been said that the nasal glands with excretory ducts consist of the secretory portion and the excretory duct, and do not possess "striated portion" and "intercalated portion "But in the author's study, it was noted that in 9 out of 11 cases, nasal glands had "striated portion" in the transitional part between the secretory portion and the excretory duct.2. These glands were found in the auterior one half portion of the inferior turbinate where the nasal glands were densely distributed.3. The striated portion of the nasal glands showed some dilatation ofthe lumen. It was tortulous and passed into the terminal portion (secretory portion), demonstrating simple branching. Sometimes considerablly long ducts were seen.The striated cells were fairly large, tall and columnar, and contained granules in the cytoplasmThey were stained ligtitly with eosin, although the cells in the secretory portion suere stained much, darker.Usually, individual cells contained one nucleus, which located in the center of the cell, but, sometimes. the nucleus located in the distal portion of the cell.And beneath the nucleus, the peculiar basal striations were noticed.4. It is considered, therefore, that these striations consist of the striated cytoplasm, including the tortulous-shaped mitochondria and the clear interspaces between rows of striated cytoplasm.5. It has been reported that the presence striated cells in the parotid gland is the proof of endocrine activity of the gland.However, the author has not been able to obtain the evidence suggesting endocrine activity of the: human nasal glands.