L9 nasal cavity Flashcards
what are the functions of the nasal cavity?
- resonating cavity for voice (has effect on voice eg if u block nose)
- houses olfactory region to sense smells
- forms upper part of respiratory tract
what are the functions of the upper respiratory tract?
- to filter, moisten & warm air before it enters the lungs
what 2 bones is the nasal septum made up of?
- the** perpendicular plate** of the ethmoid bone (superiorly)
- the **vomer **(inferiorly)
what are the 4 paranasal sinuses?
- frontal sinus
- ethmoid sinus
- **sphenoid **sinus
- **maxillary **sinus
what forms the floor of the nasal cavity?
the hard palate - maxilla and palatine (horizontal plate of palatine bone)
what forms the roof of the nasal cavity?
hint: bones of anterior cranial fossa
- nasal bone
- nasal cartilage
- frontal bone
- cribiform plate of ethmoid bone
- body of sphenoid bone
what are the 2 nasal cavities separated by?
the nasal septum
what 3 structures makes the medial wall of the nasal cavity? (the midline)
- ethmoid bone - perpendicular plate
- vomer - posterioinferiorly
- nasal cartilage
what 6 things makes up the lateral wall of the nasal cavity?
- maxilla
- sphenoid bone ( pterygoid plate)
- lacrimal bone
- inferior nasal concha
- palatine bone
- ethmoid (superior and inferior nasal conchae)
what are nasal concha?
- long narrow curled shelf of bone that protrudes into the breathing passage of the nose
function to warm and humidify the incoming air
what are the 3 nasal concha?
- superior nasal concha
- middle nasal concha
- inferior nasal concha
what are the nasal concha covered by?
a mucous membrane and a psuedostratified columnar respirtory epithelium
what are the functions of the conchae?
- airflow direction
- humidification
- heating & filtering air inhaled through nose
what is different about the inferior nasal concha in comparision to the middle and superior?
- it is an independent bone that articulates with the frontal process of the maxilla, ethmoid and lacrimal bone
what are nasal meatuses & how many are there?
- the nasal meatuses are** distinct air passages** located inferiorly to each nasal concha
- as there are 3 nasal concha, there are also 3 nasal meatuses - superior, middle and inferior
what is the superior nasal meatus?
- an airway passage located below the superior nasal concha
- smallest and most posteriorlu located meatus
what is located above the superior nasal concha?
the sphenoethmoidal recess (space)
It drains the sphenoid sinus
where is the middle nasal meatus situated & what does it do?
- between the middle nasal concha and the inferior nasal concha
- this passage drains the maxillary, frontal and anterior ethmoid sinuses
where is the inferior nasal meatus situated?
situated** below the inferior nasal concha**
what opening is found in the inferior nasal meatus?
hint: tears
the nasolacrimal duct
what important structure is found in the middle nasal meatus?
the semilunar hiatus - location of the opening of the maxillary sinus
what is the space inside the nostrils called and what is it lined with?
- the nasal vestibule
- lined with skin and hair follicles
what is the rest if the nasal cavity lined with ?
lined with mucous membrane
* richly supplied with mucous glands and blood vessels ( highly vascularised)
what is the function of the mucous membrane that surrounds the nasal cavity?
- the mucous traps any incoming particles which are then moved by the cilia into the nasal cavity & through small opening in the sinuses (infection) OR down the throat to be removed from airway
