Respiratory epithelial cells bordering the olfactory region in the nose (human)

Electron microscopy. The five respiratory cells (1) show many cross-sectioned cilia (2) in the lumen. Basal bodies (arrow heads) are regularly arranged at the apex of these cells, and in between, short, slender microvilli. Electron-light cytoplasmic protrusions (3) between the cilia are olfactory bulb or vesicles of underlying olfactory cells that are not visible here. Remind that these extensions (3, 3a) are not derived from the goblet cells (4)! Note that extension 3a contains cross-sectioned cilia within its cytoplasm. (See also scheme electron microscopy linked as a related resource). Three goblet cells (4) with large secretory granules are interspersed between ciliated cells.