The nasal cavity is a large, air-filled space above and behind the
nose in the middle of the
face. The
nasal septum divides the cavity into two cavities,
also known as fossae.
Each cavity is the continuation of one of the two
nostrils. The nasal cavity is the uppermost part of the
respiratory system
The respiratory system (also respiratory apparatus, ventilatory system) is a biological system consisting of specific organs and structures used for gas exchange in animals and plants. The anatomy and physiology that make this happen varies grea ...
and provides the nasal passage for inhaled air from the
nostrils to the
nasopharynx and rest of the
respiratory tract.
The
paranasal sinuses surround and drain into the nasal cavity.
Structure

The term "nasal cavity" can refer to each of the two cavities of the nose, or to the two sides combined.
The lateral wall of each nasal cavity mainly consists of the
maxilla. However, there is a deficiency that is compensated for by the perpendicular plate of the
palatine bone, the
medial pterygoid plate, the
labyrinth of ethmoid and the
inferior concha. The
paranasal sinuses are connected to the nasal cavity through small orifices called
ostia. Most of these ostia communicate with the nose through the lateral nasal wall, via a semi-lunar depression in it known as the
semilunar hiatus. The hiatus is bound laterally by a projection known as the
uncinate process. This region is called the ostiomeatal complex.
The roof of each nasal cavity is formed in its upper third to one half by the
nasal bone and more inferiorly by the junctions of the upper lateral cartilage and nasal septum. Connective tissue and skin cover the bony and cartilaginous components of the
nasal dorsum.
The floor of the nasal cavities, which also form the roof of the mouth, is made up by the bones of the hard palate: the horizontal plate of the palatine bone posteriorly and the palatine process of the maxilla anteriorly. The most anterior part of the nasal cavity is the nasal vestibule.
The vestibule is enclosed by the
nasal cartilages and lined by the same
epithelium of the
skin
Skin is the layer of usually soft, flexible outer tissue covering the body of a vertebrate animal, with three main functions: protection, regulation, and sensation.
Other animal coverings, such as the arthropod exoskeleton, have different ...
(stratified squamous, keratinized). Within the vestibule, this changes into the typical respiratory epithelium that lines the rest of the nasal cavity and
respiratory tract. Inside the
nostrils of the vestibule are the
nasal hair, which filter dust and other matter that are breathed in. The back of the cavity blends, via the
choanae, into the
nasopharynx.
The nasal cavity is divided in two by the vertical
nasal septum. On the side of each nasal cavity are three horizontal outgrowths called
nasal conchae (singular "concha") or turbinates. These turbinates disrupt the airflow, directing air toward the
olfactory epithelium on the surface of the turbinates and the septum. The
vomeronasal organ is located at the back of the
septum
In biology, a septum (Latin language, Latin for ''something that encloses''; septa) is a wall, dividing a Body cavity, cavity or structure into smaller ones. A cavity or structure divided in this way may be referred to as septate.
Examples
Hum ...
and has a role in
pheromone detection.
The nasal cavity has a nasal valve area that includes an external nasal valve and an internal nasal valve. The external nasal valve is bounded medially by the
columella, laterally by the
lateral nasal cartilage, and posteriorly by the nasal sill. The internal nasal valve is bounded laterally by the caudal border of the lateral nasal cartilage, medially by the dorsal
nasal septum, and inferiorly by the anterior border of the
inferior turbinate. The internal nasal valve is the narrowest region of the nasal cavity and is the primary site of nasal resistance.
Segments
The nasal cavity is divided into two segments: the respiratory segment and the olfactory segment.
* The respiratory segment comprises most of each nasal cavity, and is lined with ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium (also called
respiratory epithelium). The conchae, or turbinates, are located in this region. The turbinates have a very vascularized lamina propria (erectile tissue) allowing the venous plexuses of their mucosa to engorge with blood, restricting airflow and causing air to be directed to the other side of the nose, which acts in concert by shunting blood out of its turbinates. This
cycle occurs approximately every two and a half hours.
* The olfactory segment is lined with a specialized type of pseudostratified columnar epithelium, known as
olfactory epithelium, which contains
receptors for the sense of the smell. This segment is located in and beneath the mucosa of the roof of each nasal cavity and the medial side of each middle turbinate. Histological sections appear yellowish-brown due to the presence of lipofuscin pigments. Olfactory mucosal cell types include bipolar neurons, supporting (sustentacular) cells, basal cells, and
Bowman's glands. The axons of the bipolar neurons form the
olfactory nerve (cranial nerve I) which enters the brain through the
cribriform plate. Bowman's glands are serous glands in the lamina propria, whose secretions trap and dissolve odoriferous substances.
Blood supply
There is a rich blood supply to the nasal cavity.
Blood supply comes from branches of both the
internal and
external carotid artery, including branches of the
facial artery and
maxillary artery
The maxillary artery (eg, internal maxillary artery) supplies deep structures of the face. It branches from the external carotid artery just deep to the neck of the mandible.
Structure
The maxillary artery, the larger of the two terminal branches ...
. The named arteries of the nose are:
*
Sphenopalatine artery and
greater palatine artery, branches of the
maxillary artery
The maxillary artery (eg, internal maxillary artery) supplies deep structures of the face. It branches from the external carotid artery just deep to the neck of the mandible.
Structure
The maxillary artery, the larger of the two terminal branches ...
.
*
Anterior ethmoidal artery and
posterior ethmoidal artery, branches of the
ophthalmic artery
*Septal branches of the
superior labial artery, a branch of the
facial artery, which supplies the vestibule of the nasal cavity.
Nerve supply
Innervation of the nasal cavity responsible for the
sense of smell is via the
olfactory nerve, which sends microscopic fibers from the
olfactory bulb through the
cribriform plate to reach the top of the nasal cavity.
General sensory innervation is by branches of the
trigeminal nerve (V
1 and V
2):
*
Nasociliary nerve (V
1)
*
Anterior ethmoidal nerve from the nasociliary nerve (V
1)
*Posterior nasal branches of
maxillary nerve (V
2)
The nasal cavity is innervated by autonomic fibers.
Sympathetic innervation to the blood vessels of the mucosa causes them to
constrict, while the control of secretion by the
mucous glands is carried on
postganglionic parasympathetic nerve fibers originating from the
facial nerve.
Function
The two nasal cavities condition the air to be received by the other areas of the
respiratory tract. Owing to the large surface area provided by the
nasal conchae (also known as turbinates), the air passing through the nasal cavity is warmed or cooled to within 1 degree of
body temperature. In addition, the air is humidified, and dust and other particulate matter is removed by
nasal hair in the nostrils. The entire mucosa of the nasal cavity is covered by a blanket of mucus, which lies superficial to the microscopic cilia and also filters inspired air. The
cilia
The cilium (: cilia; ; in Medieval Latin and in anatomy, ''cilium'') is a short hair-like membrane protrusion from many types of eukaryotic cell. (Cilia are absent in bacteria and archaea.) The cilium has the shape of a slender threadlike proj ...
of the
respiratory epithelium move the secreted mucus and particulate matter posteriorly towards the
pharynx
The pharynx (: pharynges) is the part of the throat behind the human mouth, mouth and nasal cavity, and above the esophagus and trachea (the tubes going down to the stomach and the lungs respectively). It is found in vertebrates and invertebrates ...
where it passes into the
esophagus and is digested in the stomach. The nasal cavity also houses the sense of smell and contributes greatly to taste sensation through its posterior communication with the mouth via the
choanae.
Clinical significance
Diseases of the nasal cavity include
viral,
bacteria
Bacteria (; : bacterium) are ubiquitous, mostly free-living organisms often consisting of one Cell (biology), biological cell. They constitute a large domain (biology), domain of Prokaryote, prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micr ...
l and
fungal infections, nasal cavity
tumors, both benign and much more often malignant, as well as inflammations of the
nasal mucosa.
Many problems can affect the nose, including:
*
Deviated septum
Nasal septum deviation is a physical disorder of the nose, involving a displacement of the nasal septum. Some displacement is common, affecting 80% of people, mostly without their knowledge.
Signs and symptoms
The nasal septum is the bone and ...
- a shifting of the wall that divides the nasal cavity into halves
*
Nasal polyps - soft growths that develop on the lining of the nose or sinuses
*
Nosebleeds
*
Rhinitis - inflammation of the nose and sinuses sometimes caused by
allergies
Allergies, also known as allergic diseases, are various conditions caused by hypersensitivity of the immune system to typically harmless substances in the environment. These diseases include Allergic rhinitis, hay fever, Food allergy, food al ...
. The main symptom is a runny nose.
*
Nasal fractures, also known as a broken nose
*
Common cold
The common cold, or the cold, is a virus, viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract that primarily affects the Respiratory epithelium, respiratory mucosa of the human nose, nose, throat, Paranasal sinuses, sinuses, and larynx. ...
* Sinonasal tumors
See also
*
Nasal irrigation
*
Danger triangle of the face
References
External links
*
* Gross anatomy dissection of the nasal cavity, vide
an
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nasal Cavity
Nose
Olfactory system
Respiratory system
Sensory organs
Rhinology
Otorhinolaryngology