Studies on the physiology of nasal passages

Summary

Literature on the methods available for estimating the patency of the nasal passages is reviewed.

At first some of the methods employing water manometer and tambours, were tried. Later a detailed study was made using Brodie’s tambours. First, one nostril was connected by rubber tube to Brodie’s tambour recording on a slowly moving drum. Breathing into the tube and tambour, records were taken, keeping the other nostril closed. Even when a side tube was included in the system, respiratory distress occurred. Next, we connected one nostril by a rubber tube to a Brodie’s tambour and records were taken, with the other nostril kept open. In the last series of experiments, we connected both nostrils, one to each Brodie’s tambour, and included side tubes of equal length and calibre, one in each system, and then obtained simultaneous records of air flow through the two nasal passages. The advantages of this method are that records for both nasal passages are obtained simultaneously and without distress to the subject, the apparatus is easily available and inexpensive, and permanent records can be kept. This method was adopted for further experiments and is recommended for routine use in teaching institutions.