Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Cryosectioning Method for Microdissection of Murine Colonic Mucosa
Published on: July 12, 2015
Histological differences between the mucosa on the medial and lateral sides of the normal uncinate process
Wenyu She1, Xiaoyan Wang, Demin Han
1Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ministry of Education, Beijing Institute of Otolaryngology, Beijing, China.
Objectives/Hypothesis:
To determine whether histological differences exist between the medial and lateral sides of the normal mucosa of the uncinate process (UP).
Study Design:
Retrospective histological analysis.
Methods:
Twenty UPs from the nasal cavities of 17 patients with no evidence of sinus disease were harvested during endoscopic sinus surgery. The dissected mucosa was stained with hematoxylin and eosin, chromotrope 2R, alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff, and toluidine blue.
Results:
: The thickness of the nasal mucosa was significantly greater on the medial side of the UPs than on the lateral side (173 +/- 72 microm vs. 157 +/- 14 microm). The thickness of the basement membrane of the lamina propria of the mucosa was significantly greater on the medial side of the UPs than on the lateral side (2.8 +/- 2.5 microm vs. 0.8 +/- 1.0 microm). The thickness of the epithelium was greater on the lateral side than on the medial side (14 +/- 3 microm vs. 12 +/- 3 microm). The area of mucous glands was larger on the medial side than on the lateral side (43 +/- 13 x 10(-2) mm(2) vs. 33 +/- 12 x 10(-2) mm(2)). Meanwhile, the number of mast cells (4.0 +/- 1.2 vs. 1.8 +/- 0.2) and goblet cells (23.1 +/- 12.3 vs. 10.5 +/- 10.2) were both found to be higher on the lateral side than on the medial side.
Conclusions:
There are histological differences between the mucosa on the medial and lateral sides of the normal UP.
Related Concept Videos
Histology of the Small Intestine
The intestinal lining features transverse folds called circular folds, each housing fingerlike projections known as intestinal villi. These villi are covered by a layer of simple columnar epithelium, also referred to as...
Histology of the Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract
The mucosa is sometimes called a mucous membrane due to its mucus-secreting features. This membrane is composed of epithelium, which directly interacts with ingested substances, and the lamina propria, a layer...
Histology of the Large Intestine
The innermost mucosa layer comprises simple columnar epithelium, lamina propria, and muscularis mucosae. This layer is primarily populated with absorptive cells, tasked with water absorption, and goblet cells, responsible for secreting mucus to...
Microvilli
These microvilli are predominantly present in cells lining the small intestine, kidney tubules, and certain cells in the respiratory and reproductive systems. By significantly expanding the surface area of the cell membrane, microvilli enhance the cell's capacity to...
Histology of the Uterus
The endometrium is the...

