[The angioarchitecture of the septal mucosa. Experimental studies of the rabbit]

Histological and transmission-electron microscopical studies alone cannot answer all questions regarding the microcirculation of the nasal mucosa. In the present study additional morphological techniques were used to demonstrate the course of the different parts of this peculiar vascular network. Using the "injection technique", the course of every single vessel of the nasal septum could be shown, but the character or size of these vascular structures was not easy to identify. Scanning electron microscopic investigations were able to verify vascular junctions of all sizes as well as intraluminal aspects of different vessels and the relations between all parts of this endonasal circulatory system. Lower magnifications also showed the tissue arrangement in the nasal septum. In higher magnifications vessels of arterial or venous character could be identified by distinct morphological features. Additional studies were carried out using vascular corrosion casts. On studying these structures, the entire course of the different parts of the endonasal vascular system could be observed. In addition, the arrangement of the different capillary networks of the nasal system, mentioned by several earlier investigators, could be demonstrated without doubt. This technique also allowed to distinguish between arteries and veins by the appearance of their endothelial cell nuclei. Summing up our findings it can be pointed out that all techniques used in this study are useful to understand the complicated angioarchitecture of the nasal mucosa. This evaluation may also be regarded as an extension of our earlier histological and ultrastructural investigations in this field.