Abstract
Surgically obtained human tonsils were subjected to scanning electron microscopic (SEM) observations of the crypt epithelium and its basement membrane. In removing the epithelium, surface tension, prolonged fixation in 0.1% osmium tetraoxide and ultrasonic vibration were applied to a subject simultaneously. The observed sites were the superficial and deeper layers of the epithelium, basal cells, basement membrane and subepithelial connective tissues.
The results obtained were as follows:
1. In the superficial layer of the epithelium, microcrypts penetrated into the squamous epithelial cells. In the deeper layer, polygonal cells formed a channel. The basement membrane showed many micropores 1.5 to 10μm in diameter. These structures were considered to be the pathways of infiltrating cells.
2. Some micropores of the basement membrane included no infiltrating cells. This fact suggests that these micropores might maintain their own structures rather perpetually in sites where cellular infiltration is conspicuous.
3. The surface of basement membrane consisted of relatively smooth areas, fibrous structures and aggregated granular materials.
