Nasal Anatomy Quiz

Nasal Anatomy

• The nasal anatomy consists of the external nose and nasal cavity, which are made up of bone, cartilage, and fat.

External Nose

• The external nose is divided into segments, each with anatomical names:
  • Root of the nose (radix nasi)
  • Dorsum of the nose
  • Apex of the nose
  • Wings of the nose (ala nasi)
• The nasal bones, lateral nasal cartilages, major alar cartilage, minor alar cartilage, and accessory nasal cartilages support the nose.

Nasal Cavity

• The nasal cavity is divided into two parts: the nasal vestibule and the nasal cavity proper.
• The nasal vestibule is the area just inside the nostrils, supported by the cartilage of the nose and lined with tissue that contains hair.
• The nasal cavity proper is divided into the olfactory part and the respiratory part.

Olfactory Part

• The olfactory part is responsible for sensing smell, thanks to the 1st cranial nerve (olfactory nerve) that reaches out towards it.
• The olfactory tract and olfactory bulb are involved in the process of smell.
• The olfactory nerve has fibers that pierce through the ethmoidal bone and reach the nasal mucosa.

Respiratory Part

• The respiratory part is responsible for breathing.
• The nasal mucosa has bumps called conchae (or turbinates) that increase the surface area for airflow.
• The superior, middle, and inferior conchae are separated by meatuses (spaces) that have openings for the sinuses.

Sinuses

• The sinuses are air-filled cavities that decrease the relative mass of the skull and help resonate sound during speech.
• They are lined with mucosa and produce mucus to keep the nose from drying out.
• The sinuses include:
  • Sphenoid sinus
  • Frontal sinus
  • Ethmoidal sinus (with anterior, middle, and posterior ethmoidal air cells)
  • Maxillary sinus

Nasal Mucosa

• The nasal mucosa has a tunica mucosa with different types of epithelium:
  • Respiratory epithelium (pseudostratified columnar epithelium with cilia) in the respiratory part
  • Olfactory epithelium (bipolar neurons with receptors for smell) in the olfactory part
• The nasal mucosa also has goblet cells that produce lubricating mucus, and mucous glands that produce mucus.

Importance of Nasal Anatomy

• The nasal anatomy is important for respiration, smelling, and defense against unwanted particles.
• Certain conditions, such as the common cold or allergies, can cause inflammation and swelling of the nasal and sinus mucosa, leading to an increased secretion of mucus that can block the sinuses.
• Other conditions, such as nasal polyps or a deviated septum, can also affect the nasal anatomy and lead to sinusitis.

Nasal Anatomy

• The nasal anatomy consists of the external nose and nasal cavity, made up of bone, cartilage, and fat.

External Nose

• The external nose is divided into segments, including:
  • Root of the nose (radix nasi)
  • Dorsum of the nose
  • Apex of the nose
  • Wings of the nose (ala nasi)
• The nose is supported by:
  • Nasal bones
  • Lateral nasal cartilages
  • Major alar cartilage
  • Minor alar cartilage
  • Accessory nasal cartilages

Nasal Cavity

• The nasal cavity is divided into two parts:
  • Nasal vestibule (area just inside the nostrils)
  • Nasal cavity proper
• The nasal vestibule is:
  • Supported by cartilage of the nose
  • Lined with tissue containing hair
• The nasal cavity proper is divided into:
  • Olfactory part
  • Respiratory part

Olfactory Part

• Responsible for sensing smell
• Involves the 1st cranial nerve (olfactory nerve) and the olfactory tract and olfactory bulb
• Olfactory nerve fibers pierce through the ethmoidal bone and reach the nasal mucosa

Respiratory Part

• Responsible for breathing
• Nasal mucosa has bumps called conchae (or turbinates) that increase the surface area for airflow
• Conchae are separated by meatuses (spaces) that have openings for the sinuses

Sinuses

• Air-filled cavities that decrease the relative mass of the skull and help resonate sound during speech
• Lined with mucosa and produce mucus to keep the nose from drying out
• Types of sinuses:
  • Sphenoid sinus
  • Frontal sinus
  • Ethmoidal sinus (with anterior, middle, and posterior ethmoidal air cells)
  • Maxillary sinus

Nasal Mucosa

• Has a tunica mucosa with different types of epithelium:
  • Respiratory epithelium (pseudostratified columnar epithelium with cilia) in the respiratory part
  • Olfactory epithelium (bipolar neurons with receptors for smell) in the olfactory part
• Also has goblet cells that produce lubricating mucus and mucous glands that produce mucus

Importance of Nasal Anatomy

• Important for respiration, smelling, and defense against unwanted particles
• Certain conditions, such as the common cold or allergies, can cause inflammation and swelling of the nasal and sinus mucosa, leading to an increased secretion of mucus that can block the sinuses
• Other conditions, such as nasal polyps or a deviated septum, can also affect the nasal anatomy and lead to sinusitis