Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2026
15:40
An Effective Manual Deboning Method To Prepare Intact Mouse Nasal Tissue With Preserved Anatomical Organization
Published on: August 10, 2013
How nasal function influences the eyes, ears, sinuses, and lungs
1Section of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Chicago Medical Center, 5841 S. Maryland Avenue, MC1035, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. fbaroody@surgery.bsd.uchicago.edu
Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society
|March 3, 2011
Summary
The nose, the airway
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Respiratory Medicine
- Immunology
Background:
- The nose serves as the initial interface for inhaled air.
- It is anatomically connected to the ears, sinuses, eyes, and lower airway.
- Evidence suggests nasal influence on adjacent and distant organs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the interactions between the nose and contiguous/distant organs.
- To explore the mechanisms of nasal influence on other body parts.
- To synthesize current evidence on nasal-organ crosstalk.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing evidence.
- Analysis of studies on neural reflexes.
- Examination of research on systemic inflammation.
Main Results:
- The nose significantly influences connected structures like the eyes and ears.
- Neural reflexes mediate some of these nasal interactions.
- Systemic inflammatory pathways are also involved in nasal influence.
Conclusions:
- The nose plays a critical role in upper and lower airway health.
- Nasal pathways impact the function of nearby and remote organs.
- Understanding these interactions is key for comprehensive airway management.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Anatomy of Respiratory System I: Upper Respiratory Tract
The upper respiratory tract plays a vital role in the respiratory system, comprising several structures that facilitate air intake and prepare air for the lungs. It also serves as the first line of defense against pathogens and particles. This tract includes the nose and nasal cavity, the oral cavity, the paranasal sinuses, and the pharynx, each with specific functions and features.
Nose and nasal cavity
The nose and nasal cavity represent the main external openings of the respiratory tract.
Nose and nasal cavity
The nose and nasal cavity represent the main external openings of the respiratory tract.
01:24Nose and Nasal Cavity
The nose is composed of an observable exterior segment (external nose) and an internal segment within the skull known as the nasal cavity (internal nose). The external nose, visible on the face, consists of a framework of bone and hyaline cartilage enveloped in skin and muscle and lined with a mucous membrane. This structure is supported by the frontal bone, nasal bones, and maxillary bone and is supplemented by a cartilaginous framework comprising the septal nasal cartilage, lateral nasal...
01:23Overview of Respiratory System
The respiratory system is a complex biological apparatus that facilitates the exchange of gases, specifically oxygen and carbon dioxide, between our bodies and the environment. This system plays a vital role in the physiological process of respiration, an essential function for sustaining life.
What is the Respiratory System?
The respiratory system consists of a series of organs responsible for taking in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide. The primary function of the respiratory system is to...
What is the Respiratory System?
The respiratory system consists of a series of organs responsible for taking in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide. The primary function of the respiratory system is to...
01:27Cranial Bones: Lateral View
The lateral view of the cranium is dominated by temporal, sphenoid, and ethmoid bones.
The temporal bone forms the lower lateral side of the skull. The temporal bone is subdivided into several regions. The flattened upper portion is the squamous portion of the temporal bone. Below this area and projecting anteriorly is the zygomatic process of the temporal bone, which forms the posterior portion of the zygomatic arch. Posteriorly is the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. Projecting...
The temporal bone forms the lower lateral side of the skull. The temporal bone is subdivided into several regions. The flattened upper portion is the squamous portion of the temporal bone. Below this area and projecting anteriorly is the zygomatic process of the temporal bone, which forms the posterior portion of the zygomatic arch. Posteriorly is the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. Projecting...
01:16The Respiratory System
The respiratory system is comprised of the organs that enable breathing. Air enters the nostrils and mouth, followed by the pharynx (throat) and larynx (voice box), which lead to the trachea (windpipe). In the thoracic cavity, the trachea splits into two bronchi that allow air to enter the lungs. The bronchi split into progressively smaller bronchioles and terminate in small groups of tiny sacs in the lungs called alveoli, where gas exchange occurs.
01:03Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure
The process of olfaction, also known as the sense of smell, is a sophisticated chemical response system. The specialized sensory neurons that facilitate this process, known as olfactory receptor neurons, are situated in an upper segment of the nasal cavity, known as the olfactory epithelium. Olfactory sensory neurons are bipolar, with their dendrites extending from the epithelium's apex into the mucus that lines the nasal cavity. Airborne molecules, when inhaled, traverse the olfactory...