7.1 The Nose and Paranasal Sinuses

Question 1

Name 4 functions of the nose

Answer 1

Smell
Humidify air
Respire
Eliminate paranasal sinuses and nasolacrimal ducts

Question 2

Name the bones which make up the bony part of the nose

Answer 2

Nasal bone
Maxillary bones
Frontal bone

Question 3

Name the 2 cartilages found in the nose

Answer 3

Septal cartilage

Alar cartilage

Question 4

Why do fractures to the nose take a long time to heal?

Answer 4

Cartilage heals slowly due to a poor blood supply

Question 5

What is the medial wall of the nose made of?

Answer 5

Made of cartilage and bone

Question 6

What is the condition called when the medial septum of the nose undergoes necrosis?

Answer 6

Saddle nose deformity

Question 7

Describe the structure of the lateral walls of the nasal cavity

Answer 7

3 bony plates called conchae leading to the opening into the nasal cavity

Question 8

What is the function of the conchae?

Answer 8

Create turbulent air flow which heats and humidifies the air

Question 9

Which 3 groups of structures drain into the nasal cavity?

Answer 9

Sinuses
Lacrimal apparatus
Middle ear

Question 10

Name the 3 structures which enter into the nasal cavity at the semilunar hiatus at the level of the middle meatus

Answer 10

Frontal sinus
Maxillary sinus
Anterior ethmoidal sinus

Question 11

Name the structure which enters into the nasal cavity at the level of the superior meatus

Answer 11

Posterior ethmoidal sinus

Question 12

Name the 2 structures which enter into the nasal cavity at the level of the inferior meatus

Answer 12

Nasolacrimal duct

Eustachian tube

Question 13

What is the cribriform plate?

Answer 13

Part of the ethmoid bone with many perforations which allow fibres of the olfactory nerve to pass through

Question 14

Which structures pass through the sphenopalatine foramen?

Answer 14

Sphenopalatine artery
Nasopalatine nerve
Superior nasal nerve

Question 15

What is the incisive canal?

Answer 15

Pathway between the nasal cavity and oral cavity

Question 16

What structures pass through the incisive canal?

Answer 16

Nasopalatine nerve

Greater palatine nerve

Question 17

Which branches of the internal and external carotids supply the nose?

Answer 17

Ophthalmic artery
Maxillary artery
Facial artery

Question 18

What is epistaxis?

Answer 18

Nosebleeds

Question 19

Where is epitaxis most likely to occur?

Answer 19

Anterior nasal cavity known as Kiesselbach triangle

Question 20

Which nerve innervates the special sensory regions of the nose?

Answer 20

Olfactory nerve

Question 21

Which nerves give sensory innervation to the inner nose?

Answer 21

Ophthalmic nerve –> branches of nasocilliary nerve

Maxillary nerve –> nasopalatine nerve

Question 22

Which nerves give sensory innervation to the outer nose?

Answer 22

Infraorbital nerve

External nasal nerve

Question 23

Name the 4 paranasal sinuses

Answer 23

Frontal
Sphenoid
Ethmoid
Maxillary

Question 24

How can infection pass from the frontal sinus to the maxillary sinus?

Answer 24

The opening of the frontal sinus is directly above the opening to the maxillary sinus

Question 25

What is rhinitis?

Answer 25

Inflammation of the nasal mucosa leading to swelling and increased volume of secretion

Question 26

What is a nasal polyp? What symptoms do they cause?

Answer 26

Side effect of chronic rhinitis. They can cause nasal obstruction leading to snoring and sleep apnoea

Question 27

What is sinusitis?

Answer 27

Inflammation of the mucosal lining of the sinuses caused by infection.