Nose and sinuses

Question 1

What bones make up the nasal cavity?

Answer 1

-Nasal (roof)
-spehnoid (posterior and superior wall)
-ethmoid (roof where cribriform plate sits, septum, lateral wall - superior and middle nasal concha)
-inferior nasal concha (lateral wall)
-vomer (septum)
-maxilla (floor)
-palatine (floor)

FLOOR: palatine, maxilla
SEPTUM: ethmoid, vomer
ROOF: nasal, ethmoid
LATERAL WALL: ethmoid, inferior nasal concha
POSTERIOR/SUPERIOR WALL: sphenoid

**conchae: bones that sit under the turbinates in the nose

Question 2

What is the function of the nose?

Answer 2

Sensation of smell, warming/humidifying air before entering the pulmonary system, filter for pulmonary system-larger particles in the air

Question 3

What structures are involved in the roof of the nasal cavity?

Answer 3

-cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone: allows for dangling of CN1 (olfactory nerve) into the nasal cavity for detection of smell

-we can test CN1 by asking about loss of smell, and objectively testing it by having the patient close their eyes/one nostril and have them smell a tube of common scents like peppermint to see if they can detect it

Question 4

What do you look for in the physical exam of the nose?

Answer 4

-Observe the septum/lateral walls for deformities, deviations or growths which may block the nasal cavity

Question 5

What structures are involved in the lateral walls of the nasal cavity?

Answer 5

-three conchae (bones) which form turbinates
>superior nasal concha
>middle nasal concha
>inferior nasal concha

-meatus (space inferior/under each nasal concha)
>superior nasal meatus
>middle nasal meatus
>inferior nasal meatus (lacrimal duct opens into this meatus)
**these spaces are where sinuses and nasal lacrimal duct open up to in the nose

Question 6

What are the four paranasal sinuses?

Answer 6

-frontal sinus: in frontal bone, opens into middle nasal meatus

-ethmoid sinus: in ethmoid cells, opens into the superior/middle nasal meatus

-sphenoidal sinus: in body of sphenoid, opens into superior/posterior nasal cavity (not directly into meatus due to it being far back)

-maxillary sinus: largest paranasal sinus, in maxillary bone, angled up tube from maxillary sinus opens into middle nasal meatus
*tube allows for protection from bacteria entering, yet when it does enter usually has perfect conditions for growth and infection
*most common sinus infected=maxillary