Nose/Sinuses Anatomy and Physiology

Question 1

What are the functions of the nose?

Answer 1

Warming and humidifying inhaled air, immune barrier and smell

Question 2

Why is nasal function important for neonates?

Answer 2

They are obligate nasal breathers

Question 3

What type of epithelium lines the nasal passages?

Answer 3

Anterior 1/3 stratified squamous epithelium (nasal hairs)

Posterior 2/3 psuedostratified columnar (cilia, goblet cells and mucus)

Question 4

What nerve is responsible for smell and which part of the skull does it go through?

Answer 4

Olfactory nerve - cribriform plate

Question 5

Which structure is responsible for drainage and aeration of the middle ear?

Answer 5

Eustachian tube

Question 6

What are the functions of the sinuses?

Answer 6

Reservoir of warm humid air, lighten skull, crumple zones, vocal resonance and immune barrier (lined with mucosa)

Question 7

Which areas of the nose are bone and which are cartilage?

Answer 7

Upper 1/3 is bone and lower 2/3 are cartilagenous

Question 8

What are the borders of the nasal passages?

Answer 8

Midline - septum
Roof - skullbase/cribriform plate
Wall - turbinates
Floor - hard palate

Question 9

Which structures are associated with the nasal passages?

Answer 9

Paranasal sinuses, orbits - lamina papyracea, Eustachian tube and adenoids

Question 10

What bones/cartilage make up the nasal septum?

Answer 10

Septal cartilage, vomer and perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone

Question 11

Where does the septal cartilage get its blood supply from?

Answer 11

The mucosa overlying it

Question 12

What are the causes of perforations to the nasal septum?

Answer 12

Septal haematoma, trauma (including digital) and drugs

Question 13

What are the consequences of septal haematomas?

Answer 13

The septum necroses which leads to perforation (whistling and bleeding)

Question 14

What are the three turbinates?

Answer 14

Superior, middle and inferior

Question 15

What are the functions of the turbinates?

Answer 15

Increase the surface area, humidification and warming

Question 16

What is the function of the nasolacrimal duct?

Answer 16

Drainage pathway of tears

Question 17

Where does the nasolacrimal duct open into the nose?

Answer 17

Inferior meatus

Question 18

Name the paranasal sinuses?

Answer 18

Frontal, maxillary, sphenoid and ethmoid

Question 19

Where do the frontal sinuses drain?

Answer 19

Middle meatus

Question 20

Where do the ethmoid air cells drain?

Answer 20

Anterior - Middle meatus

Posterior - Superior meatus

Question 21

Which piece of bone sits between the ethmoid air cells and the orbit?

Answer 21

Lamina papyracea

Question 22

Where does the sphenoid sinus drain?

Answer 22

Sphenoethmoidal recess

Question 23

Which important structures run next to the sphenoid sinus?

Answer 23

Above: Optic nerve
On Either Side: Internal Carotids
Posterior: Pituitary gland

Question 24

Where do the maxillary sinuses drain?

Answer 24

Middle meatus

Question 25

What is Little’s area?

Answer 25

Most common site of epistaxis (nosebleeds)

Question 26

What is the innervation of the nose?

Answer 26

Almost all trigeminal V1 and V2

Sensation - Facial

Question 27

What important structures sit in the post nasal space?

Answer 27

Adenoids and opening of Eustachian tube