Nose Flashcards

Explore the external nose, nasal cavity, skeletal framework, mucosal regions, vascular supply, innervation, and olfactory anatomy.

Card 1 of 30Question

What are the two main anatomical divisions of the nose?

The external nose and the nasal cavity.

In This Section

1. What are the two main anatomical divisions of the nose?

The external nose and the nasal cavity.

2. What are the primary functions of the nose?

Olfaction, air filtration, warming and humidification of inspired air, and contribution to vocal resonance.

3. What are the main external anatomical landmarks of the nose?

The root, dorsum, apex, alae, and external nares.

4. Which bones form the principal bony framework of the external nose?

The paired nasal bones and frontal processes of the maxillae, with support from the frontal bone.

5. Which cartilages provide the main structural support of the external nose?

The septal cartilage, paired lateral nasal cartilages, and major alar cartilages.

6. Which parts of the major alar cartilages help form the nasal tip and nostril margins?

The medial crura support the columella, while the lateral crura support the alar region.

7. What is the nasal vestibule?

The anterior portion of each nasal cavity immediately inside the nostril, lined primarily by skin.

8. What are vibrissae in the nasal vestibule?

Coarse hairs that trap relatively large airborne particles.

9. What structure separates the right and left nasal cavities?

The nasal septum.

10. What are the three major skeletal components of the nasal septum?

The perpendicular plate of the ethmoid, vomer, and septal cartilage.

11. Which bones contribute most directly to the roof of the nasal cavity?

The nasal and frontal bones anteriorly, cribriform plate of the ethmoid centrally, and sphenoid posteriorly.

12. Which structures form the floor of the nasal cavity?

The palatine processes of the maxillae and horizontal plates of the palatine bones.

13. What are the three principal nasal conchae?

The superior, middle, and inferior nasal conchae.

14. Which nasal conchae are parts of the ethmoid bone?

The superior and middle nasal conchae.

15. What is the anatomical function of the nasal conchae?

They increase mucosal surface area and promote airflow mixing for conditioning inspired air.

16. Where does the nasolacrimal duct open into the nasal cavity?

The inferior nasal meatus.

17. Which paranasal sinuses normally drain into the middle nasal meatus?

The frontal, maxillary, and anterior and middle ethmoidal sinuses.

18. Where do the posterior ethmoidal air cells drain?

Into the superior nasal meatus.

19. Where does the sphenoidal sinus drain?

Into the sphenoethmoidal recess, superior and posterior to the superior nasal concha.

20. What are the two main functional regions of the nasal mucosa?

The respiratory region and the olfactory region.

21. What type of epithelium lines most of the respiratory region of the nasal cavity?

Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium with goblet cells.

22. Where is the olfactory mucosa primarily located?

In the roof of the nasal cavity, superior nasal concha, and adjacent upper nasal septum.

23. Which cranial nerve transmits the special sensory information responsible for smell?

The olfactory nerve (cranial nerve I).

24. Through which bony structure do olfactory nerve fibers enter the cranial cavity?

The foramina of the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone.

25. Which nerves provide general sensory innervation to the nasal cavity?

Branches of the ophthalmic (V1) and maxillary (V2) divisions of the trigeminal nerve.

26. Which arteries contribute to the blood supply of the nasal cavity?

The sphenopalatine, anterior and posterior ethmoidal, greater palatine, and superior labial arteries.

27. What is Kiesselbach's plexus?

An arterial anastomotic network in the anteroinferior nasal septum, commonly called Little's area.

28. Why is Little's area clinically important?

It is a common site of anterior epistaxis because of its superficial, richly interconnected blood vessels.

29. Where do the nasal cavities open posteriorly?

Into the nasopharynx through the paired choanae.

30. What are the main routes of lymphatic drainage from the nasal cavity?

Anterior regions drain mainly to submandibular nodes, while posterior regions drain to retropharyngeal and upper deep cervical nodes.