Inferior nasal conchae
Encyclopedia
The inferior nasal concha (Inferior Turbinated Bone) is one of the turbinate
s in the nose
. It extends horizontally along the lateral wall of the nasal cavity
[Fig. 1] and consists of a lamina of spongy bone
, curled upon itself like a scroll. Each inferior nasal concha is considered a facial pair of bones since they arise from the maxilla
e bones and projects horizontally into the nasal cavity. They are also termed 'inferior nasal turbinates' because they function similar to that of a turbine. As the air passes through the turbinates, the air is churned against these mucosa-lined bones in order to receive warmth, moisture and cleansing. Superior to inferior nasal concha are the middle nasal concha
and superior nasal concha
which arise from the cranial portion of the skull. Hence, these two are considered as a part of the cranial bones.
It has two surfaces, two borders, and two extremities.
The lateral surface is concave, and forms part of the inferior meatus
.
It may be divided into three portions: of these,
The inferior border is free, thick, and cellular in structure, more especially in the middle of the bone.
Turbinate
In anatomy, a nasal concha is a long, narrow and curled bone shelf that protrudes into the breathing passage of the nose...
s in the nose
Human nose
The visible part of the human nose is the protruding part of the face that bears the nostrils. The shape of the nose is determined by the ethmoid bone and the nasal septum, which consists mostly of cartilage and which separates the nostrils...
. It extends horizontally along the lateral wall of the nasal cavity
Nasal cavity
The nasal cavity is a large air filled space above and behind the nose in the middle of the face.- Function :The nasal cavity conditions the air to be received by the other areas of the respiratory tract...
[Fig. 1] and consists of a lamina of spongy bone
Bone
Bones are rigid organs that constitute part of the endoskeleton of vertebrates. They support, and protect the various organs of the body, produce red and white blood cells and store minerals. Bone tissue is a type of dense connective tissue...
, curled upon itself like a scroll. Each inferior nasal concha is considered a facial pair of bones since they arise from the maxilla
Maxilla
The maxilla is a fusion of two bones along the palatal fissure that form the upper jaw. This is similar to the mandible , which is also a fusion of two halves at the mental symphysis. Sometimes The maxilla (plural: maxillae) is a fusion of two bones along the palatal fissure that form the upper...
e bones and projects horizontally into the nasal cavity. They are also termed 'inferior nasal turbinates' because they function similar to that of a turbine. As the air passes through the turbinates, the air is churned against these mucosa-lined bones in order to receive warmth, moisture and cleansing. Superior to inferior nasal concha are the middle nasal concha
Middle nasal concha
The medial surface of the labyrinth of ethmoid consists of a thin lamella, which descends from the under surface of the cribriform plate, and ends below in a free, convoluted margin, the middle nasal concha....
and superior nasal concha
Superior nasal concha
The back part of the medial surface of the labyrinth of ethmoid is subdivided by a narrow oblique fissure, the superior meatus of the nose, bounded above by a thin, curved plate, the superior nasal concha....
which arise from the cranial portion of the skull. Hence, these two are considered as a part of the cranial bones.
It has two surfaces, two borders, and two extremities.
Surfaces
The medial surface is convex, perforated by numerous apertures, and traversed by longitudinal grooves for the lodgement of vessels.The lateral surface is concave, and forms part of the inferior meatus
Inferior meatus
The inferior meatus, the largest of the three meatuses of the nose, is the space between the inferior concha and the floor of the nasal cavity....
.
Borders
Its upper border is thin, irregular, and connected to various bones along the lateral wall of the nasal cavity.It may be divided into three portions: of these,
- the anterior articulates with the conchal crest of the maxillaMaxillaThe maxilla is a fusion of two bones along the palatal fissure that form the upper jaw. This is similar to the mandible , which is also a fusion of two halves at the mental symphysis. Sometimes The maxilla (plural: maxillae) is a fusion of two bones along the palatal fissure that form the upper...
; - the posterior with the conchal crest of the palatinePalatine boneThe palatine bone is a bone in many species of the animal kingdom, commonly termed the palatum .-Human anatomy:...
; - the middle portion presents three well-marked processesProcess (anatomy)In anatomy, a process is a projection or outgrowth of tissue from a larger body. The vertebra has several kinds of processes,such as: transverse process, prezygapophysis, postzygapophysis.-Examples:Examples of processes include:...
, which vary much in their size and form.- Of these, the anterior or lacrimal process is small and pointed and is situated at the junction of the anterior fourth with the posterior three-fourths of the bone: it articulates, by its apex, with the descending process of the lacrimal boneLacrimal boneThe lacrimal bone, the smallest and most fragile bone of the face, is situated at the front part of the medial wall of the orbit. It has two surfaces and four borders.-Lateral or orbital surface:...
, and, by its margins, with the groove on the back of the frontal process of the maxilla, and thus assists in forming the canal for the nasolacrimal ductNasolacrimal ductThe nasolacrimal duct carries tears from the lacrimal sac into the nasal cavity. Excess tears flow through nasolacrimal duct which drains into the inferior nasal meatus...
. - Behind this process a broad, thin plate, the ethmoidal process, ascends to join the uncinate process of the ethmoid; from its lower border a thin lamina, the maxillary processMaxillary processMaxillary process can refer to:* An alternate name for the maxillary prominence * The maxillary process of inferior nasal concha...
, curves downward and lateralward; it articulates with the maxilla and forms a part of the medial wall of the maxillary sinusMaxillary sinusThe pyramid shaped maxillary sinus is the largest of the paranasal sinuses, and drains into the nose. It is present at birth as rudimentary air cells, and develops throughout childhood.-General characteristics:...
.
- Of these, the anterior or lacrimal process is small and pointed and is situated at the junction of the anterior fourth with the posterior three-fourths of the bone: it articulates, by its apex, with the descending process of the lacrimal bone
The inferior border is free, thick, and cellular in structure, more especially in the middle of the bone.
Ossification
The inferior nasal concha is ossified from a single center, which appears about the fifth month of fetal life in the lateral wall of the cartilaginous nasal capsule.See also
- Bone terminology
- Terms for anatomical location
- Empty nose syndromeEmpty nose syndromeEmpty nose syndrome is a term that is used in otolaryngology to describe a nose that has been physiologically crippled by excessive surgical removal of turbinates in the nose in a surgical procedure known as 'turbinectomy' or 'conchotomy'...