[The vascularisation of epiglottic cartilage, a histological investigation (author's transl)]

For this study 30 formaldehyde-fixed human epiglottic cartilages of both sexes from the first up to the ninth decade were used. Besides histological staining histochemical reactions for demonstration of mucopolysaccharides were performed. In the elastic cartilage of the epiglottis at the end of the first decade sporadic areas of degenerating cartilage are present, which increase and confluence with proceeding age. At first from the seventh decade large and mostly centrally situated degeneration areas are prevailing. At all aging stages the cartilaginous plate of the epiglottis is perforated with many channels. These cartilage channels were outlined everywhere with the perichondrium. There is connective tissue, adipose tissue, arteries, veins, peripheral nerves, mixed glands and excretory ducts. From the third to the sixth decade blood vessels and connective tissue penetrate from the surface of the cartilage or from the cartilage channels different far into the epiglottic cartilage. In this manner vascular channels develop, which lie both in areas with cartilage degeneration and not degenerated areas. The pericanalicular cartilage ground substance contains a lot of PAS-positive substances combined with a diminished content of acid mucopolysaccharides independent from the position of the vascular channel. The blood vessels of the channels are significant for the metabolism of the cartilage. They improve the nutrition of the epiglottic cartilage in the middle age. Therefore the relatively early beginning degenerative changes of the cartilage increase only a little in this period in order to maintain the function of the epiglottis. Only in the higher age large degeneration areas of cartilage prevail accompanied with the absence of vascular channels and worse metabolism.