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Physiology of the Nasal Cartilages and Their Importance to Rhinosurgery

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Book cover Nasal Physiology and Pathophysiology of Nasal Disorders

Abstract

The complex framework of the human nasal cartilages is unique among mammals. It is the mobile portal to the respiratory system providing conditions for the passage of airstreams and for the generation of nasal resistance and turbulence. Already in utero, the septodorsal (septolateral) cartilage develops as the dominating structure for nasal and midfacial growth. This is briefly shown in Sect. 34.1. The dominating role of this cartilage for the nasal appearance and for nasal physiology and pathophysiology is preserved lifelong. Together with the erectile lining of the nasal cavities, the cartilaginous framework enables air-conditioning and the acting of the nasal cycle. The anterior nose with the nasal valve as its crucial region is the narrowest part of the upper airways and provides two-thirds of the total airway resistance. Due to its protruding exposition, it is especially vulnerable to external injuries and may react as a protecting crumpled zone. No wonder that most of the structures obstructing the nasal airways are diagnosed in the anterior nose. This is discussed in Sect. 34.2. In Sect. 34.3, clinical and histological examples are presented showing the long-term effects of the disturbed cartilaginous nasal framework caused by congenital and epigenetic factors such as hormones, infections and injuries including nasal surgery. In Sect. 34.4, some surgical procedures and their long-term results are discussed to restore the physiological functions of the anterior nose, the site of the most resistive nasal segments, where deformities of the cartilaginous skeleton predominantly obstruct the nasal airways.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Ulm, Mozartstrasse 22/1, Ulm, Germany, D-89075

    Wolfgang Pirsig MD

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  1. Wolfgang Pirsig MD
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Correspondence to Wolfgang Pirsig MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Otorhinolaryngology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    T. Metin Önerci

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Pirsig, W. (2013). Physiology of the Nasal Cartilages and Their Importance to Rhinosurgery. In: Önerci, T. (eds) Nasal Physiology and Pathophysiology of Nasal Disorders. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-37250-6_34

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-37250-6_34

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