Nasal Cavity

nasal cavity

[′nā·zəl ¦kav·əd·ē] (anatomy) Either of a pair of cavities separated by a septum and located between the nasopharynx and anterior nares.

Nasal Cavity

the cavity in which the olfactory organs of vertebrate animals are located. In terrestrial vertebrates and in man, the nasal cavity is also the initial division of the respiratory tract.

The nasal cavity is unpaired in cyclostomes and paired in fish. In all pulmonate organisms, the paired nasal cavity opens to the outside through external nasal orifices. The nasal and oral cavities are connected by means of choanae in lungfishes, amphibians, the majority of reptiles, and birds. In animals with a hard palate—crocodiles, mammals, and man—the nasal cavity is connected with the nasopharynx; in this case, the posterior section of the nasal cavity extends into the nasopharyngeal canal. In amniotes and man, the anterior section of the nasal cavity is called the vestibule.

In all terrestrial vertebrates the nasal cavity is divided by the maxilloturbinal bone into two sections: the superior nasal meatus and the inferior nasal meatus. In birds and the majority of mammals the superior nasal meatus contains the concha nasalis, or the turbinate bone. In mammals and man the posterior section of the nasal cavity contains the conchae of the ethmoid bone, which are covered by olfactory epithelium. All terrestrial vertebrates have a nasolacrimal canal that connects the eye socket with the nasal cavity; in most of these animals, Jacobson’s organ is formed by an outgrowth of the nasal cavity. In crocodiles, birds, and especially mammals and man, the nasal cavity is connected with the air cavities in the cranial bones.

N. S. LEBEDKINA

nasal cavity

cavity

[kav´ĭ-te] 1. a hollow or space, or a potential space, within the body or one of its organs; called also caverna and cavum.2. the lesion produced by dental caries.

Cavities in the body. From Applegate, 2000.abdominal cavity the cavity of the body between the diaphragm above and the pelvis below, containing the abdominal organs.absorption c's cavities in developing compact bone due to osteoclastic erosion, usually occurring in the areas laid down first.amniotic cavity the closed sac between the embryo and the amnion, containing the amniotic fluid.cranial cavity the space enclosed by the bones of the cranium.glenoid cavity a depression in the lateral angle of the scapula for articulation with the humerus.marrow cavity (medullary cavity) the cavity that contains marrow" >bone marrow in the diaphysis of a long bone; called also medullary canal.nasal cavity the proximal portion of the passages of the respiratory system, extending from the nares to the pharynx; it is divided into left and right halves by the nasal septum and is separated from the oral cavity by the hard palate.oral cavity the cavity of the mouth, bounded by the jaw bones and associated structures (muscles and mucosa).pelvic cavity the space within the walls of the pelvis.pericardial cavity the potential space between the epicardium and the parietal layer of the serous pericardium.peritoneal cavity the potential space between the parietal and the visceral peritoneum.pleural cavity the potential space between the two layers of pleura.pulp cavity the pulp-filled central chamber in the crown of a tooth.cavity of septum pellucidum the median cleft between the two laminae of the septum pellucidum. Called also pseudocele, pseudocoele, and fifth ventricle.serous cavity a coelomic cavity, like that enclosed by the pericardium, peritoneum, or pleura, not communicating with the outside of the body and lined with a serous membrane, i.e., one which secretes a serous fluid.tension cavity cavities of the lung in which the air pressure is greater than that of the atmosphere.thoracic cavity the portion of the ventral body cavity situated between the neck and the diaphragm; it contains the pleural cavity.tympanic cavity the major portion of the middle ear, consisting of a narrow air-filled cavity in the temporal bone that contains the auditory ossicles and communicates with the mastoid air cells and the mastoid antrum by means of the aditus and the nasopharynx by means of the auditory tube. The middle ear and the tympanic cavity were formerly regarded as being synonymous.uterine cavity the flattened space within the uterus communicating proximally on either side with the fallopian tubes and below with the vagina.

na·sal cav·i·ty

[TA] the cavity on either side of the nasal septum, lined with ciliated respiratory mucosa, extending from the naris anteriorly to the choana posteriorly, and communicating with the paranasal sinuses through their orifices in the lateral wall, from which also project the three conchae; the cribriform plate, through which the olfactory nerves are transmitted, forms the roof; the floor is formed by the hard palate.
See also: bony nasal cavity. Synonym(s): cavitas nasi [TA], cavum nasi

nasal cavity

A region which communicates with the nasopharynx via a choana. The nasal cavity is lined by ciliated pseudostratified columnar (respiratory-type) epithelium, except for an area of the roof and superior aspect of the nasal septum and lateral nasal wall, which are covered by olfactory epithelium.

Boundaries
• Medial—Nasal septum
• Anterior—Nares
• Posterior—Choana
Regions
• Lateral wall—composed of superior, middle and inferior turbinates, septum.
• Roof—contains the cribriform plate; supports brain’s olfactory lobe.
• Floor—formed by the palatine process of maxilla and horizontal plate of palatine bone.
Tumours affecting
Angiofibroma, cylindrical cell papilloma, inflammatory polyp, inverted papilloma, pyogenic granuloma, squamous papilloma.

na·sal cav·i·ty

(nā'zăl kav'i-tē) [TA] The cavity on either side of the nasal septum, lined with ciliated respiratory mucosa, extending from the naris anteriorly to the choana posteriorly, and communicating with the paranasal sinuses through their orifices in the lateral wall, from which also project the three conchae; the cribriform plate, through which the olfactory nerves are transmitted, forms the roof; the floor is formed by the hard palate.

nasal cavity

a system of chambers above the hard palate of mammals through which air passes from the nostrils to the pharynx and on to the lungs. During inspiration air is filtered, warmed, moistened and smelled.

na·sal cav·i·ty

(nā'zăl kav'i-tē) [TA] Space around nasal septum, lined with ciliated respiratory mucosa, extending from naris anteriorly to choana posteriorly, and communicating with paranasal sinuses through their orifices in lateral wall, from which three conchae also project.

nasal cavity

Nasal Cavity

nasal cavity

Nasal Cavity

nasal cavity

cavity

na·sal cav·i·ty

nasal cavity

na·sal cav·i·ty

nasal cavity

na·sal cav·i·ty

nasal cavity

Words related to nasal cavity

noun either of the two cavities lying between the floor of the cranium and the roof of the mouth and extending from the face to the pharynx

Related Words