Anatomy of the nose

Question 1

What bones are involved in the septum?

Answer 1

Ethmoid, vomer (+ nasal cartilage)

Question 2

What bones form the nose?

Answer 2

Nasal, 
maxilla, 
ethmoid, 
vomer, 
inferior nasal concha

Question 3

What is the function of the conchae and what are they formed of?

Answer 3

To increase surface area to increase warming and humidification:
Superior and middle conchae (from the ethmoid bone)
Inferior concha from inferior nasal concha

Question 4

What types of epithelium form the nose and where are they found?

Answer 4

Olfactory epithelium - at the top of the nose
Keratinised stratified squamous cell epithelium - at the nostrils
Respiratory epithelium - in the nasal passageway and down to the pharynx

Question 5

What is olfaction?

Answer 5

The sense of smell

Question 6

What is the sensory and motor innervation of the nose?

Answer 6

Sensory: V1 + V2 (split diagonally so septum has dual supply)
Motor: Facial nerve (CNVII)

Question 7

What is the arterial supply to the nose?

Answer 7

Anterior ethmoid artery
Posterior ethmoid artery
(pierce the ethmoid bone)
Sphenopalatine artery (pierces sphenoid bone + continues on to palate)

Question 8

What is the area where all the arteries of the nose called and why is it important?

Answer 8

Little’s area

High density of arteries so bleeds a lot during epistaxis (nosebleeds)

Question 9

What are the 4 paranasal sinuses called?

Answer 9

Frontal,
Ethmoid air cells,
Maxillary,
Sphenoid

Question 10

What are the 4 meatuses in the nose and what drains into each?

Answer 10

Sphenoethmoidal recess (sphenoid sinus)
Superior meatus (posterior ethmoidal air cells)
Middle meatus (anterior and middle ethmoidal air cells, frontal sinus, maxillary sinus)
Inferior meatus (nasolacrimal duct)

Question 11

What drains into each part of the middle meatus?

Answer 11

Ethmoidal bulla:
-middle ethmoidal air cells

Semilunar hiatus:

• frontal sinus
• maxillary sinus
• anterior ethmoidal air cells