Ultrastructure of the human mucocutaneous end organ

The ultrastructure of the human mucocutaneous end organ is described. The corpuscle is divided into sublobular units comprising axon terminals surrounded by generally concentric lamellar processes which are derived from laminar cells whose nuclei are situated towards the periphery of the sublobules. Interlamellar substance which contains elastic tissue, collagen and coarse periodicity crossbanded structures intervenes between lamellar processes. Specialized zones of contact resembling desmosomes are found at intervals seemingly connecting adjacent lamellar processes and axons with lamellar processes. The ultrastructural features of this end organ are similar to that of the Meissner corpuscle despite minor differences of the light microscopical appearance, which supports the view that differences in sensory end organs are merely variations on a common organizational basis.