Density of goblet cells in the normal adult human nasal septum

On ten adult septal mucous membranes, stained by the PAS-alcian blue whole-mount method, the density of goblet cells was determined in 12 localities distributed on the entire septum. The median density proved to be slightly, but significantly increasing into the anteroposterior direction, there being 4,800 in the anterior and 6,200 cells per mm2 in the posterior quarter of the septum. There was a tendency to higher density in the lower than in the middle and upper thirds. However, these differences were not statistically significant. Interindividual variations in density and variations within different segments of the same septum were relatively pronounced. This goes to show that the assessment of goblet cell density on the basis of sections, so often seen in the literature, can only be taken with the utmost reserve.