Nasal Cavity

Paired triangular spaces extending anteriorly from the nares to the nasopharynx posteriorly via the choanae that function to detect odors and filter, heat, and humidify inhaled air

Nasal Cavity

Superior one-third region of the nasal cavity dedicated to detecting odors

Olfactory Area of Nasal Cavity

Inferior two-thirds region of the nasal cavity responsible for warming, filtering, and humidifying air

Respiratory Area of Nasal Cavity

Bony structure forming the roof or apex of the nasal cavity

Cribriform Plate of Ethmoid Bone

Bony structures forming the floor of the nasal cavity

Palatine Processes of Maxilla and Horizontal Plates of Palatine Bone

Anatomical structures composing the medial wall or nasal septum

Septal Cartilage, Vomer, and Perpendicular Plate of Ethmoid Bone

Bony structures forming the lateral wall of the nasal cavity

Superior and Middle Conchae of Ethmoid Bone, and Inferior Concha

Anatomical structures composing the anterior bony and cartilaginous external nose

Nasal Bones, Frontal Process of Maxilla, Nasal Part of Frontal Bone, Septal Cartilage, Lateral Processes of Septal Cartilage, Alar Cartilage, Vomeronasal Cartilage, and Fibro-Fatty Tissue

Scroll-like bony shelves projecting infero-medially from the lateral wall that create airflow turbulence to warm and humidify air

Nasal Conchae

Air passage located beneath each nasal concha containing drainage openings for paranasal sinuses and the nasolacrimal duct

Nasal Meatus

Structure that drains tear fluid specifically into the inferior nasal meatus

Nasolacrimal Duct

Air-filled extensions of the nasal cavity into surrounding cranial bones that reduce skull weight and increase voice resonance

Paranasal Sinuses

Paranasal sinus located in the frontal bone that drains into the middle meatus via the frontonasal duct and ethmoidal infundibulum

Frontal Sinus

Ethmoidal air cells situated between the nasal cavity and orbit that drain into the middle meatus at the ethmoidal bulla and semilunar hiatus

Anterior and Middle Ethmoidal Cells

Ethmoidal air cells that drain into the superior nasal meatus

Posterior Ethmoidal Cells

Paranasal sinus located within the sphenoid body close to the optic nerve, pituitary gland, internal carotid artery, and cavernous sinus, draining into the sphenoethmoid recess

Sphenoid Sinus

Largest paranasal sinus whose roof forms the orbital floor and whose floor is formed by the alveolar maxilla, draining into the middle meatus via the semilunar hiatus

Maxillary Sinus

Arterial branches derived from the maxillary artery that supply the nasal cavity

Sphenopalatine Artery and Greater Palatine Artery

Arterial branch derived from the facial artery that supplies the anterior nasal cavity

Septal Branch of Superior Labial Artery

Arterial branches derived from the internal carotid artery via the ophthalmic artery supplying the nasal cavity

Anterior and Posterior Ethmoidal Arteries

Highly vascular arterial anastomotic network on the anterior nasal septum highly prone to bleeding

Kiesselbach Area

Arterial supply to the hard and soft palate derived from the maxillary artery and external carotid system

Greater Palatine, Lesser Palatine, Sphenopalatine, and Ascending Palatine Arteries

Arterial branches arising from the lingual artery to supply the tongue and floor of the mouth

Dorsal Lingual, Sublingual, and Deep Lingual Arteries

Cranial nerve branch supplying general sensory innervation (GSA) to the anterosuperior nasal cavity

Anterior Ethmoidal Nerve (CN V1)

Cranial nerve branches supplying general sensory innervation (GSA) to the posteroinferior nasal cavity

Nasopalatine Nerve and Posterior Lateral Nasal Nerves (CN V2)

Cranial nerve providing special sensory innervation (SSA) for olfaction in the superior one-third of the nasal cavity

Olfactory Nerve (CN I)

Autonomic secretomotor pathway where preganglionic fibers from CN VII via the greater petrosal nerve join sympathetics to form the nerve of the pterygoid canal, synapsing in the pterygopalatine ganglion

Parasympathetic Pathway to Nasal and Palatine Glands

Origin of preganglionic and postganglionic sympathetic innervation to the nasal cavity and palate

T1–T4 Lateral Horn (IMCC) and Superior Cervical Ganglion

Cranial nerve branches providing general sensory innervation (GSA) to the hard palate

Greater Palatine Nerve and Nasopalatine Nerve (CN V2)

Cranial nerve branch providing general sensory innervation (GSA) to the soft palate

Lesser Palatine Nerves (CN V2)

Cranial nerve branch providing general somatic sensory (GSA) input to the anterior two-thirds of the tongue

Lingual Nerve (CN V3)

Cranial nerve providing both general sensory (GVA/GSA) and taste (SSA) to the posterior one-third of the tongue

Glossopharyngeal Nerve (CN IX)

Cranial nerve branch providing general sensory (GVA) and taste (SSA) input to the epiglottic area of the tongue

Internal Laryngeal Nerve of Vagus Nerve (CN X)

Cranial nerve branch carrying taste (SSA) fibers to the anterior two-thirds of the tongue by riding along the lingual nerve

Chorda Tympani of Facial Nerve (CN VII)

Cranial nerve providing motor innervation (GSE) to all intrinsic and extrinsic tongue muscles except the palatoglossus

Hypoglossal Nerve (CN XII)

Cranial nerve branch providing motor supply (SBE/GSE) to the tensor veli palatini muscle

Mandibular Nerve (CN V3)

Cranial nerve supplying motor innervation (GSE/SBE) via pharyngeal branches to soft palate muscles (levator veli palatini, musculus uvulae, palatopharyngeus) and the palatoglossus muscle

Vagus Nerve (CN X)

Soft palate muscle that tenses the soft palate and opens the auditory tube during swallowing or yawning, innervated by CN V3

Tensor Veli Palatini

Soft palate muscle that elevates the soft palate during swallowing or yawning, innervated by CN X

Levator Veli Palatini

Palatal and tongue muscle that elevates the posterior tongue and closes the oropharyngeal isthmus, innervated by CN X

Palatoglossus

Muscle that shortens the uvula and pulls it superiorly, innervated by CN X pharyngeal branches

Musculus Uvulae

Main muscle bulk of the tongue that protrudes and depresses the tongue bilaterally, and deviates it to the opposite side unilaterally, innervated by CN XII

Genioglossus

Tongue muscle that depresses and lowers the tongue after elevation to reposition food, innervated by CN XII

Hyoglossus

Tongue muscle that retrudes and elevates the tongue posteriorly to propel a food bolus into the oropharynx, innervated by CN XII

Styloglossus

Tongue muscles that alter tongue shape by curling or flattening to shape the food bolus around the palate, innervated by CN XII

Intrinsic Tongue Muscles

Slit-like space of the oral cavity lying between the lips/cheeks externally and the teeth/gums internally

Oral Vestibule

Space bounded internally by the dental arches, extending from the oral orifice to the palatoglossal arch

Oral Cavity Proper

Anatomical structures forming the muscular floor of the oral cavity proper

Mylohyoid, Geniohyoid, and Genioglossus Muscles

Key anatomical structures contained within the floor of the oral cavity

Sublingual Gland, Sublingual Carunculae, Lingual Nerve (CN V3), Chorda Tympani (CN VII), Submandibular Ganglion, Hypoglossal Nerve (CN XII), and Sublingual/Deep Lingual Vessels

Clinical condition resulting from impact to the thin anterior nasal bone and high vascularity in Kiesselbach area

Epistaxis (Profuse Nasal Bleeding)

Pathology where displacement of the nasal septum contacts the lateral nasal wall, causing obstruction, snoring, and breathing difficulties

Deviated Nasal Septum

Anatomical proximity allowing dental infections from maxillary molar roots to spread into the sinus cavity

Floor of Maxillary Sinus

Anatomical passage in the middle meatus whose inflammatory obstruction impedes mucus drainage from the frontal, maxillary, and anterior/middle ethmoidal sinuses

Semilunar Hiatus

Clinical presentation of a CN X pharyngeal branch lesion

Dysphagia, Ipsilateral Soft Palate Drooping, and Uvular Deviation TOWARD Unaffected Side

Clinical deficit resulting from iatrogenic damage to the greater palatine nerve during posterior hard palate procedures

Loss of General Sensation Over Most of Hard Palate

Clinical presentation upon attempted tongue protrusion following trauma or injury to CN XII

Tongue Deviation TOWARD Affected (Lesioned) Side

Three clinical deficits resulting from severance of the lingual nerve proximal to its junction with the chorda tympani

Loss of General Sensation to Anterior 2/3 Tongue, Loss of Taste to Anterior 2/3 Tongue, and Loss of Parasympathetic Secretomotor Drive to Submandibular/Sublingual Glands