[Histology of the larynx]

The mucous membrane lining the interior of the larynx was studied in autopsy specimens taken from 21 infant larynxes, with ages ranging from 1 to 15 years. Only those larynxes in which the epithelial mucosal structures were preserved were set aside for study. A standard histological technique was applied. Paraffin sections were stained with haematoxylin-eosin, PAS, Masson's triple stain and orcine. The epithelium of the ventricles, ventricular bands and subglottis was found to be of respiratory type. On the vocal folds, the lining was non-keratinising squamous epithelium. These findings are consistent with those found in the literature. Findings that differed were as follows: the laryngeal surface of the epiglottis is classically described as having a respiratory type of epithelium, whereas we found it to be of non-keratinising stratified squamous type. The literature describes the epithelium of the ventricular bands as respiratory. While in our series we found stratified squamous in 56% and respiratory in 44%. Other findings are imprecise in the literature, and need definition; the finding of taste papillae in six cases without age correlation; and the richness of follicles in the lymphoid tissue at the epiglottis and ventricles of children aged more than 3 months.