Microscopic Structure of the Epithelium Lining the Epiglottis in Wistar Rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the type of the epithelium present on the epiglottis surface, through histological examination. The epithelium lining the pharyngeal side of epiglottis is keratinized stratified squamous. The thickness of the keratin layer is different from one subject to another. Usually the keratin layer extends to the apex of the epiglottis, but in some of the animals taken into study, the keratin layer extends to the apical third of the laryngeal side of epiglottis. The epithelium lining the laryngeal side is different. In most of the epiglottises examined, the surface is lined by non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium in the apical third. The rest of the laryngeal side of the epiglottis is lined by respiratory epithelium type. In one subject, the entire laryngeal surface is lined by a non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium. Our study highlights that the pharyngeal side of epiglottis is lined by a keratinized stratified squamous epithelium, whereas on the laryngeal side, the epithelium in the apical third is non-keratinized stratified squamous and at the rest of the surface the epithelium is pseudostratified.