upper respiratory tract - the nose

The Upper Respiratory TractThe Upper Respiratory Tract

The NoseThe Nose

Raymond G Buick FRCS

10 mins

The Upper Respiratory TractBulk Air movement – v – Gaseous Exchange

• Nose to main bronchi



• Nose• Mouth• Pharynx• Larynx• Trachea• Bronchi



• Functions shared with Digestive System



• Functions shared with Digestive System

• Functions of the Upper Respiratory Tract

The Upper Respiratory Tract• Functions of the Upper Respiratory Tract

• Conduit

The Upper Respiratory Tract• Functions of the Upper Respiratory Tract

• conduit

• prepare inspired air for gaseous exchange

The Upper Respiratory TractFunctions of the Upper Respiratory Tract

prepare inspired air for gaseous exchange

IN ---- variable • Temp• water saturation• contamination

The Upper Respiratory TractFunctions of the Upper Respiratory Tract

prepare inspired air for gaseous exchange

IN ---- variable • Temp• water saturation• contamination

ALVEOLI• temp 370C• saturated• sterile

The Upper Respiratory TractNOSE


external (anterior) nares----------------------- internal (posterior) nares



• Vestibule - skin (hairs)• ciliated pseudostratified epithelium



• cilliated pseudostratified epithelium

• olfactory epithelium



• cilliated pseudostratified epithelium

• olfactory epithelium– peripheral organ of smell– through cribriform plate– olfactory bulb



• ciliated pseudostratified epithelium– well vascularised– close to bone


• olfactory nerve


• olfactory nerve

cribriform plate



• nasal septum• nasal conchae• meatus• paranasal sinuses



• nasal septum• nasal conchae X 3 sup, middle, inferior

• paranasal sinuses X 4• meatus

sphenoid, ethmoid, frontal, maxillary


frontal, sphenoid, ethmoid, maxillary


external (anterior) nares• nasal septum• nasal conchae


• nasal septum• nasal conche • paranasal sinuses


blood supply– sphenopalatine artery– ant & post ethmoidal arteries– greater palatine artery– superior labial artery– lateral nasal branches of facial artery

Antrior part of nasal septum - Kiesselbach area NOSEBLEED


Posterior boundary is the choana (Greek – “funnel”)Bony orificeAbove soft palateNasal cavity & nasopharynx

The Upper Respiratory TractNOSEClinical

nose bleeds - epistaxisTrauma

nasal fracturesseptal haematoma

blocked noseForeign Body in nosenasal polyps

inflammationrhinitissinusitis






Kiesselbach's area, Kiesselbach's plexus, Kiesselbach's triangle, Little's area, is a region in the anteroinferior part of the nasal septum a vascular plexus called Kiesselbach's plexus.






http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Maxilar_sinusites.jpg

The EndThe End

Raymond G Buick FRCS

upper respiratory tract - the nose

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