Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2025

Modeling and Simulations of Olfactory Drug Delivery with Passive and Active Controls of Nasally Inhaled Pharmaceutical Aerosols
Published on: May 20, 2016
Impact of Intra-Phenotypic Nasal Vestibular Variation on Local Airflow Dynamics
Ryan Sicard1,2, Sarah Russel1,3, David Jang1
1Department of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, U.S.A.
Notch size in the anterior nasal airway significantly impacts airflow volume in the inferior region. This finding is crucial for understanding nasal airflow dynamics in individuals with normal anatomy.
Area of Science:
- Rhinology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Computational Fluid Dynamics
Background:
- Many individuals possess a natural notch indentation in their nasal anatomy.
- This indentation, located at the anterior-superior nasal vestibule, can affect airflow.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate how varying sizes of notched indentations influence local airflow patterns within the anterior nasal airway.
- To determine the correlation between notch size and airflow distribution and resistance.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 25 healthy individuals with 40 unilateral notched airways.
- Subject-specific 3D nasal airway reconstruction from radiographic images.
- Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling to simulate inspiratory airflow at 15 L/min.
Main Results:
- Notch size significantly correlated with inferior airflow volume at the anterior airway (R=0.32, p=0.04).
- Middle and superior regional resistance values were significantly correlated with notch size (Middle: R=0.54, p<0.001; Superior: R=0.41, p=0.009).
- Posterior airway resistance also showed significant correlation with notch size in middle and inferior regions.
Conclusions:
- Anterior nasal airway notch size exerts a significant influence on localized airflow volume, particularly in the anterior-inferior airway.
- These findings highlight the anatomical impact of nasal notching on airflow dynamics.
Related Concept Videos
Factors Affecting Pulmonary Ventilation
Alveolar Surface Tension
The alveolar fluid lines the luminal surface of the alveoli and exerts a force called surface tension. This force is caused by the polar water molecules in the liquid being more strongly attracted to each...
Pressure Relationships in Thoracic Cavity
Breathing Mechanisms
Both intra-alveolar and intrapleural pressures rely on specific lung properties. The ability to breathe—allowing air to enter the lungs...
Laminar and Turbulent Flow
Equilibrium and Balance
Navier–Stokes Equations
Anatomy of Respiratory System I: Upper Respiratory Tract
Nose and nasal cavity
The nose and nasal cavity represent the main external openings of the respiratory tract....

