Density of mucous glands in the normal adult nasal turbinates

On 13 normal inferior and middle turbinates the mucous membrane was freed, stained by the PAS-alcian blue whole-mount method, and the mean density of glandular orifices was determined by counting in 4 mm2 fields. The median density fell in both turbinates in the anteroposterior direction, being in the inferior turbinate 8.2 glands/mm2 anteriorly, 7.9 in the middle, and 7.1 glands/mm2 posteriorly. In the middle turbinate it was 8.4 glands/mm2 anteriorly, 8.1 in the middle, and 7.3 glands/mm2 posteriorly. There were no significant differences in median density between the medial and lateral wall or between the superior and inferior half of the inferior or middle turbinate as a whole. The median total number of glands in the inferior turbinate was 9,200 with a very wide interindividual range of 6,100-12,700. In the middle turbinate the median count was 6,700 glands and the range 4,400-11,500. The pathology of the mucous glands of the nose is discussed.