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The (or '''nasal fossa''') is a large air-filled space above and behind the nose in the middle of the face.
The nasal cavity conditions the air to be received by the areas of the
Respiratory Tract . Owing to the large surface area provided by the conchae, 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 finally dust and other particulate matter are removed by the fine hairs present in the nostril. The
Cilia of the
Respiratory Epithelium move the particulate matter towards the pharynx where it is swallowed.
The lateral wall of the nasal cavity is mainly made up by the , the
Medial Pterygoid Plate , the
Labyrinth Of The Ethmoid and the
Inferior Concha .
The nasal cavity is enclosed by the
Nasal Bone above.
The floor of the nasal cavity, which forms 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. To the front of the nasal cavity is the nose, while the back is continuous with the
Pharynx . The
Paranasal Sinus es are connected to the nasal cavity through small orifices called
Ostia .
The nasal cavity is divided in two by a vertical fin called the
Nasal Septum . On the sides of the nasal cavity are three horizontal outgrowths called
Turbinate s or ''conchae'' (singular "concha"). 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 and has a role in
Pheromone detection.
Cilia and
Mucus along the inside wall of the nasal cavity trap and remove dust and pathogens from the air as it flows through the nasal cavity. The cilia move the mucus down the nasal cavity to the pharynx, where it can be swallowed.
There is a rich blood supply to the nasal cavity. In some animals, such as
Dog s, the
Capillary beds flowing through the nasal cavity help cool the blood flow to the
Brain .
Blood supply comes from branches of both the
Internal and
External Carotid Artery , including branches of the
Facial Artery and
Maxillary Artery . The named arteries of the nose are:
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
Cribiform Plate to reach the top of the nasal cavity.
General sensory innervation is by branches of the
Trigeminal Nerve (V
1 & V
2):
The entire nasal cavity is innervated by autonomic fibers.
Sympathetic innervation to the blood vessels of the mucosa causes them to
Constrict , while
Parasympathetic innervation of the mucosa controls secrection by
Mucous Glands .
Diseases of the nasal cavity include
Viral infections and nasal cavity
Cancer .
Empty Nose Syndrome .
