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Distribution of mucusal surface area in nasal and paranasal spaces of a monkey and mouse lemur
Author(s) -
Smith Timothy D,
Eiting Thomas P,
Rossie James B
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.449.8
Subject(s) - lemur , olfactory mucosa , anatomy , biology , paranasal sinuses , nasal glands , nasal cavity , mucous membrane of nose , olfactory system , pathology , primate , medicine , neuroscience
Internal nasal anatomy differs markedly between the two major groups of primates. Strepsirrhines (e.g., lemurs) have more numerous turbinals and recesses compared to haplorhines (e.g., monkeys). However, no detailed quantitative comparisons have been made. Using adult mouse lemurs ( Microcebus sp) and tamarins ( Saguinus sp), we measured nasal and paranasal surface area (SA) in two serially sectioned heads and digitally reconstructed the airways using two dry crania. Olfactory SA was also quantified. Measurements reveal that mucosal SA on turbinals is 17% greater in Microcebus than in Saguinus. The ethmoturbinal complex of Microcebus accounts for half of the total olfactory mucosa in the nasal airway. In contrast, most (61%) olfactory mucosa in Saguinus is distributed on other surfaces (e.g., nasal septum). Paranasal spaces account for 17% of total internal nasal SA in Microcebus and 26% in Saguinus , perhaps revealing different degrees of secondary pneumatization. Taken together, these results suggest different patterns of mucosal distribution between haplorhines and strepsirrhines. The distribution of mucosa between these two groups may reflect differences in airflow through the nose, and particularly, into and out of the olfactory region. Under the constraint of a reduced ethmoid region, haplorhines may have redistributed, rather than reduced, olfactory mucosa. This study was funded by the National Science Foundation, # BCS‐0820751.