การศึกษาลักษณะรูปร่างสามมิติของเซลล์บุผิวในหลอดลมของสัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยนมด้วยกล้องจุลทรรศน์อิเลคตรอนชนิดส่องกราด (Surface topography of tracheal cells of common tree shrew (Tupaia glis))

     The surface morphology of the luminal surface of  tracheal epithelial cell was demonstrated by mean of scanning electron microscopy. The trachea was investigated that the ciliated cells, non-ciliated cells, and goblet cells (mucous cells) were clearly observed in three dimensions. The ciliated cell provided long cilia to protect lung from foreign body. The goblet cells which lined the mucous membrane were also over the cilia and entraped foreign body in the inspired air. This mucus substance was fused the particles and was propelled by cilia outward. It led to protect lung from invasion. The non-ciliated cells or microvillus cells were covered with short microvilli. They were believed that the microvilli surface were important in regulate the volume of the tracheobronchial secretion. Our results confirm that the morphology of each cell was related to the function for conducting airway.