[Scanning electron microscopic observations on the middle ear mucosa of human fetuses]

The epithelial development of middle ear mucosa in nine human fetuses, ranging from the 12th week to full term, was observed by the scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the ciliated cells were found in the tympanic cleft of the 12th week fetus. The ciliated cells were especially dense in a crescent region along the antero-inferior periphery of the inner surface of eardrum, and were distributed around the tympanic orifice predominantly, above and blow the promontory and the hypotympanum. The length of cilia and the population of the ciliated cells increased with the fetal age. At the 26th week, the ciliated cell population and the length of cilia were similar to those of the neonate. The goblet cells appeared at the 26th fetal week. The secretory phenomenon of the goblet cells was seen at the 34th fetal age. These findings indicated that the mucociliary transportation system has been developed well at the late period of fetal development.