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STRUCTURE

Lateral wall of nose has three owing projections called as conchae. These conchae increase the surface area

Lateral wall of the nose is partly made up of bone and partly by cartilage and partly made up of soft tissues

Lateral wall is subdivided into three parts

• Small depressed area in the anterior part is called vestibule which contains short and stiff hair called vibrissae

• Middle part is called as atrium of middle meatus and posterior part contains conchae and space separating conchae are called meatus

Conchae and meatuses

Nasal conchae are curved bony projection which are directed medially and downwards

● Superior concha and middle concha are made up of ethmoid bone and inferior concha is an independent bone

● Meatuses are the passages beneath overhanging conchae. Each meatus will communicate with nasal cavity proper

● Inferior meatus is present underneath the inferior concha and it’s largest of all meatuses. nasolacrimal duct opens into it and it’s opening is guarded by hasner’s valve

● Middle meatus lies underneath the middle concha. Frontal air sinus , anterior ethmoidal air sinus and maxillary sinus opens into it

● Superior meatus lies below the superior concha. It receives openings of Posterior ethmoidal air sinus

● Sphenoethmoidal recess is triangular fossa present just above superior concha it receives opening of sphenoid air sinus

BLOOD SUPPLY

● Anteriosuperior quadrant is supplied by anterior ethmoidal artery and assisted by posterior ethmoidal artery. Anterioinferior quadrant is supplied by branch of facial artery

● Posteriosuperior quadrant supplied by branches of sphenopalatine artery. Posterioinferior quadrant is supplied by greater palatine artery

● Venous drainage : Veins form plexus which anteriorly into facial vein and posteriorly into pharyngeal plexus of veins

● Nerve supply : Anteriosuperior quadrant is supplied by anterior ethmoidal nerve branch of opthalmic nerve. Anterioinferior quadrant is supplied by anterior superior alveolar nerve, branch of infraorbital and continuation of maxillary nerve

● Posteriosuperior quadrant is supplied by lateral posterior superior nasal branches of pterygopalatine ganglion. Posterioinferior quadrant is supplied by anterior palatine branch from pytergopalatine ganglion

Clinical significance

Hypertrophy of mucosa over inferior nasal concha is a common feature of allergic rhinitis which is characterised by sneezing , nasal blockage and excessive nasal discharge from nose. Drugs like Nasal decongestants and antihistamines may be given.

Reference : B.D chaurasia