Nose - Anatomy / Physiology Flashcards
what part of the nose is responsible for creating laminar flow of air ?
septum and turbinates
why is the nasal airway important for neonates?
because they are obligate nasal breathers
which congenital abnormality can occur in the nose in neonates?
choanal atresia
back of the nasal passage is blocked either by soft or bony tissue
what is the mucosal lining of the nose?
anterior 1/3rd is stratified squamous
posterior 2/3rds is pseudo stratified columnar epithelium
what nerve provides our sense of smell and where does it arise from?
olfactory nerve which arises from cribriform plate
what provides aeration of the middle ear?
eustachian tube
what are the functions of the sinuses and what are they?
frontal, ethmoid, sphenoid, maxillary
lightens the skull
protects crumpling zones from trauma
helps with vocal resonance
lined with same mucosa as the nose providing an immune barrier
what are the external sub units of the nose?
glabella nasion dorsum supra tip tip collumnella
within the internal nose what forms the …
- roof
- lateral
- floor
- nasal septum
- cribriform plate / skull base
- turbinates
- hard palate
- bone - vomer and perpendicular plates of ethmoid & septal cartilage
what is the clinical significance of breaking the nose?
you have to investigate whether the perpendicular plate of sphenoid bone isn’t broken as this can damage the cribriform plate resulting CSF leakage
how does a septal haematoma form?
usually post trauma which results in lack of blood supply to the cartilage
tis results in septal necrosis and can lead to perforation
what are the causes of a septal haematoma?
trauma
drugs - overuse of vasoconstrictors such as coccaine
what type of tissue covers the turbinates and why?
erectile tissue
allows them to expand in response to temperature i.e. when its cold outside more air has to be humidified so the turbinates expand to humidify a greater volume of air
what is the function of the turbinates?
humidify and warm air
what is the name of the tear duct and where is it found and what does it pass through?
nasolacrimal duct
opens under inferior turbinate and passes through inferior meatus
why do you get a runny nose when you cry?
the nasolacrimal duct (tear duct) opens up through the inferior turbinate into the nasal cavity
where does each sinus open into and drain into?
frontal - lateral to middle turbinate and drains into middle meatus
maxillary - lateral to middle turbinate and drains into middle meatus
ethmoid - anterior to middle meatus and lateral to middle turbinate & posterior to superior and later to superior turbinate
sphenoid - drains to sphenoethmoidal recess and lies medial to superior turbinate
which sinuses are termed as ‘honeycomb like’? and where do they drain?
ethmoid sinuses
anterior drains to middle meatus
posterior drains to superior meatus
which nerve runs above the sphenoid sinus?
optic nerve
what can result as a complication from severe sinusitis of the frontal sinuses?
pots puffy
swelling and oedema bulging out of the forehead
what drains into the inferior meatus?
nasolacrimal duct
what is the condition called when there is inflammation and infection that affects the nasal passageway and therefore paranasal sinuses?
rhino sinusitis
what is the important relation with the maxillary sinus?
orbits
if infection spreads can cause orbital sepsis - affect eye sight
what is the important relation with the frontal and sphenoid sinuses?
the cranial fossa
infection can spread causing meningitis or intracranial abscess
