Nasal/sinus anatomy: The conchae are also called turbinates- scrolls of erectile tissue and thin bone that can enlarge from allergy, inflammation, etc. There are 3-4 on each side of the nose. The meatus is a space where sinuses drain; there are 3 of those.
Full Answer
What is the nasal meatus?
Nasal meatuses are the anteroposterior passages located on the lateral wall of the human nasal cavity. There are three meatuses varying in size, namely the superior, middle and the inferior meatus [2]. The superior meatus, located between the superior concha and the middle concha, is the smallest among the three meatuses.
What is the middle nasal concha called?
Middle nasal concha: As the name suggests, the middle nasal concha is the bone located between the superior and inferior conchae [8]. Superior nasal concha: It is the small, delicate seashell shaped bone located above the two other turbinates [5, 6].
What is the difference between superior and inferior nasal concha?
While the superior and middle nasal conchae form part of the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone, the inferior nasal concha is a bony structure by itself. It sits on the vertical bony plate known as the nasal septum, separating the nasal cavity into two bilateral and symmetrical anatomical caves. Contents.
How many conchae are in the nasal cavity?
Nasal conchae structure. The three pairs of conchae on either side of the nasal cavity project horizontally into the breathing space, dividing it into the inferior, middle and superior meatuses and the sphenoethmoidal recess [2, 3].
What is the difference between a nasal concha and a nasal meatus?
The conchae divide the nasal cavity into nasal ducts or meatuses, which branch out from a common nasal meatus which is adjacent to the nasal septum.
Are concha and meatus the same?
The inferior nasal concha participates in the formation of two spaces including the middle and inferior nasal meatuses. The inferior nasal meatus is the largest of the spaces in the nasal cavity that lies beneath the inferior nasal concha and the lateral nasal wall.
What is the nasal meatus?
The nasal meatuses are distinct air passages of the lateral nasal cavity located inferior to each nasal conchae.
What are the roles of the conchae and meatus?
Superior Meatus (Upper Conchae) Functions of this passageway include: Drainage of two of the paranasal sinuses: the sphenoid and back (posterior) ethmoid sinuses. Like the middle meatus, airflow through this passageway (which interacts with sinus cavities) helps to modify our vocal features.
What is the nasal conchae?
nasal concha, also called Turbinate, or Turbinal, any of several thin, scroll-shaped bony elements forming the upper chambers of the nasal cavities. They increase the surface area of these cavities, thus providing for rapid warming and humidification of air as it passes to the lungs.
What are the 3 nasal conchae?
Located along the lateral walls of the nasal cavity, there are three pairs of turbinates commonly described: superior, middle, and inferior.
Where is the conchae?
The conchae are located laterally in the nasal cavities, curling medially and downward into the nasal airway. Each pair is composed of one concha in either side of the nasal cavity, divided by the septum.
What drains into the meatus?
The posterior ethmoid sinus drains into the superior meatus, which is inferior to the superior concha. The middle and anterior ethmoid, maxillary and frontal sinuses drain inferior to the middle concha into the middle meatus. The nasolacrimal duct drains into the inferior meatus.
What opens the middle nasal meatus?
The middle meatus is an air passage of the lateral nasal cavity located between the middle nasal concha and lateral nasal wall. The anterior ethmoid air cells, maxillary and frontal sinuses all drain into the middle meatus.
What is inferior nasal meatus?
The inferior meatus (plural: meatus) is an air passage of the lateral nasal cavity located between the inferior nasal concha and lateral nasal wall. The nasolacrimal duct drains into the inferior meatus, and Woodruff plexus is located posteriorly.
What opens into inferior meatus?
Anatomical Parts The inferior meatus is below and lateral to the inferior nasal concha; the nasolacrimal duct opens into this meatus under cover of the anterior part of the inferior concha.
What does Concha mean in anatomy?
Noun. concha (plural conchae or conchæ) Any shell-shaped structure: (anatomy) The deepest indentation of the cartilage of the human ear, attaching to the mastoid bone and leading to its central opening. (anatomy) Alternative form of nasal concha.
What part of the body is meatus?
Urine leaves your body through a hole at the end of your urethra. That hole from the inside to the outside is called the urethral meatus. (The term 'meatus' refers to any opening from the inside to the outside.)
What does meatus mean in anatomy?
Noun. meatus (plural meatus or meatuses) (anatomy) A tubular opening or passage leading to the interior of the body. quotations ▼ The urinary meatus is the opening of the urethra, situated on the glans penis in males, and in the vulva in females.
What is an example of meatus?
A meatus is a short, tube-like channel extending into the bone. It can provide passage and protection to nerves and vessels. An example is the external acoustic meatus, also known as the ear canal, which connects the middle and outer ear.
What is the meaning of urethral meatus?
The urinary meatus, also known as the external urethral orifice, is the opening or meatus of the urethra. It is the point where urine exits the urethra in males and in females, and also where semen exits the urethra in males.
Which nasal concha forms the inferior nasal meatus?
The inferior nasal concha forms the inferior nasal meatus.
What are the nasal conchae?
The inferior nasal concha is the most caudally based of the three nasal conchae and sits on the vertical bony plate known as the nasal septum. The pair of inferior nasal conchae mature via endochondral ossification. Its articulating bony structures include: 1 frontal process of the maxilla anteriorly 2 the uncinate process of the ethmoid bone and the lacrimal bone anteromedially 3 perpendicular plate of the palatine bone posteromedially
What is the inferior nasal concha?
Inferior nasal concha. The inferior nasal concha is the most caudally based of the three nasal conchae. While the superior and middle nasal conchae form part of the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone, the inferior nasal concha is a bony structure by itself. It sits on the vertical bony plate known as the nasal septum, ...
What are the articulating structures of the maxilla?
Its articulating bony structures include: frontal process of the maxilla anteriorly. the uncinate process of the ethmoid bone and the lacrimal bone anteromedially. perpendicular plate of the palatine bone posteromedially. The inferior nasal concha forms the inferior nasal meatus.
Which nasal concha matures via endochondral ossification?
The pair of inferior nasal conchae mature via endochondral ossification. Its articulating bony structures include:
Where do ethmoids nest?
They mature via endochondral ossification and nest within a curvature of the nasal septum, so that its protuberance doesn’t span the entire width of the nasal cavity. Articulating bony structures include the frontal process of the maxilla anteriorly, the uncinate process of the ethmoid bone and the lacrimal bone anteromedially, ...
Which bone structures are articulating?
Articulating bony structures include the frontal process of the maxilla anteriorly, the uncinate process of the ethmoid bone and the lacrimal bone anteromedially, and the perpendicular plate of the palatine bone posteromedially.
What are the three pairs of conchae on either side of the nasal cavity?
Nasal conchae structure. The three pairs of conchae on either side of the nasal cavity project horizontally into the breathing space, dividing it into the inferior, middle and superior meatuses and the sphenoethmoidal recess [2, 3].
Why are nasal conchae called turbinates?
The nasal conchae or turbinates are named this way because they function in a similar way as a turbine, being principally responsible for regulating the air flow during inhalation. The bones expand the surface area of the nasal cavity, allowing the air to come into better contact with the cavity walls. They also slow down the laminar flow of air through the breathing passages, so the air spends a longer time in the cavity in order to be dehumidified [3].
What are the three pairs of conchae?
The three pairs of conchae on either side of the nasal cavity project horizontally into the breathing space, dividing it into the inferior, middle and superior meatuses and the sphenoethmoidal recess [2, 3]. Each pair, placed over and facing toward the corresponding meatus [4, 7], is identified by different names, depending on its location: 1 Inferior nasal concha: The largest and lowest of the three turbinate bones [10], the inferior concha or inferior turbinate is located on the septum, separating the two nasal cavities [11]. 2 Middle nasal concha: As the name suggests, the middle nasal concha is the bone located between the superior and inferior conchae [8]. 3 Superior nasal concha: It is the small, delicate seashell shaped bone located above the two other turbinates [5, 6].
What is the name of the bone above the two other turbinates?
Superior nasal concha: It is the small, delicate seashell shaped bone located above the two other turbinates [5, 6].
Where is the inferior concha located?
Inferior nasal concha: The largest and lowest of the three turbinate bones [10], the inferior concha or inferior turbinate is located on the septum, separating the two nasal cavities [11].
Which conchae protects the olfactory bulb?
The inferior conchae are primarily responsible for the above functions while the middle conchae create a protective shield over the sinuses. The superior turbinates serve to protect the olfactory bulb, the structure housing the smell receptors [13]. Nasal Turbinates.
What is the best treatment for nasal turbinates?
There are various nasal decongestants, antihistamines and nasal steroids that can be used to treat the condition. However, severe cases may call for a surgical procedure for the reduction of the nasal turbinates [16].
Where are the meatuses located?
Nasal meatuses are the anteroposterior passages located on the lateral wall of the human nasal cavity. Connected To: Nasal cavity. There are three meatuses varying in size, namely the superior, middle and the inferior meatus [2]. Nasal Meatus Anatomy.
Where is the superior meatus located?
Superior meatus. The superior meatus, located between the superior concha and the middle concha, is the smallest among the three meatuses. The posterior ethmoidal cells open into the front part of the superior meatus while the opening of the sphenopalatine foramen is behind it.
What is the bony projection of the ethmoidal bulla?
It has a bony projection known as the ethmoidal bulla, which contains the middle ethmoidal cells. The uncinate process, a horn-shaped bony projection, is located beneath this bulla. The ethmoidal infundibulum, containing the fronto-nasal duct leads to this process while the duct is connected with the frontal sinus, ...
