2.4 The Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Air Sinuses Flashcards
What kind of Epithelium forms the Respiratory Mucosa which lines most of the Nasal Cavity?
Ciliated Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium
What is the roof of the Nasal Cavity lined with?
Olfactory Nerves
Which Cranial Nerve innervates the Mucosa which lines the Nasal Cavity?
The Olfactory Nerve (Cranial Nerve I)
This is therefore responsible for the sense of smell
Which plate of bone do axons of the Olfactory Nerve pass through to enter the Cranial Cavity?
The Cribriform Plate of the Ethmoid Bone
What are the 3 projections which are in the Lateral Wall of the Nasal Cavity?
- Superior Concha
- Middle Concha
- Inferior Concha
What is the space inferior to an Concha called?
A Meatus
What lies directly underneath the Superior Concha?
The Superior Meatus
What lies directly underneath the Middle Concha?
The Middle Meatus
What lies directly underneath the Inferior Concha?
The Inferior Meatus
What lies directly superior to the Superior Concha?
The Sphenoethmoid Recess
The Inferior Concha is a bone by itself, what bone are the Superior and Middle Conchae formed from?
The Ethmoid Bone
What Arteries supply the Nose?
Branches of the Ophthalmic Artery (A branch of the Internal Carotid Artery)
Branches of the External Carotid Artery
What is the Venous drainage of the Nose
The Nose is drained via a Venous Plexus
What implications does a rich vascular supply to the Nasal Cavity have for a common clinical condition?
Epistaxis (A Nose Bleed) - Especially in the very heavily vascularised “Little’s Area”
What are Paranasal Air Sinuses?
Air filled extensions of the “Respiratory Part” of the Nasal Cavity
What are the functions of Paranasal Air Sinuses?
- Humidify Inspired Air
- Reduce the Weight of the Skull
- Vocal Resonance
- Immunological Defences
- Act as a buffer in Trauma
What is the significance of the Respiratory Mucosa lining the Paranasal Air sinuses being similar to (and continuous with) that which lines the Nasal Cavity?
Rhinosinusitis can develop
What opens into the Sphenoethmoid Recess?
The Spenoidal Sinus
What opens into the Superior Meatus?
The Posterior Ethmoid Air Cells
What opens into the Middle Meatus?
- The Frontal Sinus
- The Maxillary Sinus
- The Middle Ethmoid Air Cells
- The Anterior Ethmoid Air Cells
What opens into the Inferior Meatus?
The Nasolacrimal Duct
Why do the Sinuses need to be able to drain freely?
Due to them being lined with Secretory Mucosa
Which Sinus does not have its opening at the most Inferior Part?
The Maxillary Sinus
Which Sinuses floor is often indented by Tooth Sockets?
The Maxillary Sinus
What can Sinus inflammation cause?
Blockage of the Sinus opening into the Nasal Cavity, resulting in pain (which is carried along branches of the Trigeminal Nerve)
What Nerve innervates the Frontal Air Sinus?
Supraorbital Nerve (A Branch of the Ophthalmic Division of the Trigeminal Nerve (Cranial Nerve V1))
What Nerve innervates the Maxillary Air Sinus?
Superior Alveolar Nerve (A Branch of the Maxillary Division of the Trigeminal Nerve (Cranial Nerve V2))
What Nerve innervates the Sphenoidal Air Sinus?
Posterior Ethmoidal Nerve (A Branch of the Ophthalmic and Maxillary Division of the Trigeminal Nerve (Cranial Nerve V1 / V2))
What Nerve innervates the Ethmoidal Air Cells?
Anterior and Posterior Branches of the Nasociliary Nerve (A Branch of the Ophthalmic Division of the Trigeminal Nerve (Cranial Nerve V1))
