[Scanning electron microscopic study of human bronchial mucosa under normal and pathological conditions]

Scanning electronmicroscopic picture of the normal human bronchial mucosa and alterations of it in chronic bronchitis are described. According to the author's findings in chronic bronchitis the regular arrangement of cilia disappears, the number of them decreases and they become shortened with a club-like formation on the end. Focal destruction of the cilia can also be seen. In the epithelium of the mucosa number of the cells without cilia increases. This is a consequence of the destruction of the cilia on one hand, and increase of the number of mucus secreting goblet cells on the other. Alterations of the bronchial mucosa in chronic bronchitis revealed by scanning electron microscopy may play an important part in the pathogenesis and persistence of chronic bronchitis of different origine.