Nasal cavity Anatomy • Lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium with cilia • Inferior portion is larger than superior portion • Olfactory epithelium is located at the superior part of the nasal cavity around the cribriform plate Piriform aperture • Anterior opening bounded by the nasal bones and maxilla Nasal septum • Frequently deviates to 1 side, giving rise to unequal chambers Lateral walls • Composed of large venous plexuses that have the appearance of erectile tissue ... The nasal cavity and nearby sinuses are lined with nasal mucosa, which warms and moistens inhaled air. Shell-like bones called nasal conchae assist in the air-warming process. Tiny hairs in the nostrils trap large particles, preventing them from entering the lungs. The nose triggers sneezing to expel irritating particles. The nasal cavity is a large, air-filled space located behind the external nose that serves as the primary entry point for inhaled air. It is the beginning of the respiratory tract, where air is filtered, humidified, and warmed before reaching the lungs. It constitutes the upper respiratory system and the paranasal sinuses, oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx and is the first of the respiratory tract structures. Anatomy and physiology The nasal cavity heats and humidifies the inspired air and filters small particles into the air before the air reaches the lung. The nasal cavity is lined with the same columnar epithelium that lines the lung’s airways.
