Nasal cavity and respiratory epithelium and paranasal sinus

what is the nasal vestibule

the entrance to the nasal cavity which continues to internal nares or choanae

what are the bounds of the nasal cavity

bounded above by the sphenoid and ehtmoid bones, and below by hard (palatine bone) and soft palate

what are the nasal conchae (turbinates)

superior (ethmoid), middle (ethmoid) and inferior (cranial bone)

meatus in nasal cavity

located between conchae

components of the middle meatus

openings into the paranasal sinuses, ethmoid bulla and semilunar hiatus (THIS IS THE MOST ACTIVE ONE)

mucous membrane

lines the respiratory and digestive organs

characteristics of mucosa

contains goblet cells, open to external environment, and is protective, absorptive an secretory

respiratory epithelium make up

ciliated pseudo-stratified columnar epithelium and goblet cells

role of mucus and cilia in respiratory

mucus collects dust cillia moves it to the oral cavity

what is nasal mucosa and what is it made up of

lining of the nasal cavity and made of respiratory epithelium and lamina propria

serous fluid

water secretion produced by some glands in the nasal mucosa, its a component of mucus and contains lysozyme granules (break down bacteria and protective)

what is olfactory epithelium made of

respiratory epithliam and olfactory receptor cells

where is olfactory epithelium located

below the cribiform plate

what is cribiform plate made of

multiple olfactory foramina for passageways of the olfactory nerves

what are paranasal sinus lined with

respiratory mucosa/epithelium

why are sinuses vulnerable to infection and inflammation

because they have a narrow opening

role of paranasal sinus

communicate with the nasal cavity thru ducts

paransal sinus characteristics (for communication)

each sinus has on opening/communication into the nasal cavity. they open into the semilunar hiatus or above superior nasal conchae

what do drugs do for sinusitis

anti histamines - tell epithelia to stop accumulating fluid so the airways open, musinex - stimulates production of mucus which will carry fluid out and open sinus

what happens if mucosa in sinus become inflammed

it can swell shut and we get closed faces producing pressure