Anatomy of the Nasal Cavity

Question 1

What are the functions of the nasal cavity?

Answer 1

Warm and humidify inspired air.
Trap pathogens.
Sense of smell.
Drain paranasal sinuses and lacrimal ducts.

Question 2

Name the 3 regions of the nasal cavity?

Answer 2

Vestibule
Respiratory region
Olfactory region

Question 3

What is the vestibule?

Answer 3

Area surrounding the external openings (nares).

Question 4

What epithelium is found in the respiratory region?

Answer 4

Ciliated pseudostratified columnar with goblet cells.

Question 5

Describe the olfactory region?

Answer 5

Found at the apex.

Lined with olfactory cells and receptors.

Question 6

What are the nasal conchae?

Answer 6

3 shelves of bone that protrude into the nasal cavity. They are paired and divided by the nasal septum.
There is an inferior, middle and superior.
They are divided by meatuses.
They act to increase the surface area to be able to humidify air, make air less turbulent, and help sense temperature.

Question 7

Name the 4 openings into the nasal cavity?

Answer 7

Semilunar hiatus: Opening of the frontal, ethmoidal and maxillary sinuses.
Opening of sphenoid sinus.
Opening of lacrimal duct.
Opening of eustascian tube.

Question 8

Describe the arterial supply to the nasal cavity?

Answer 8

Anterior and posterior ethmoidal arteries from the internal carotid.
Sphenopalatine, greater palatine, and superior labial from the external carotid.

Question 9

Describe innervation of the nasal cavity?

Answer 9

Olfactory bulb and nerves under the cribiform plate.

Nasociliary nerve from V1.
Nasopalatine from V2.
Both give sensory innervation to septum and lateral walls.

Question 10

What is the lowest part of the cerebellum called?

Answer 10

The cerebellar tonsil.