Lateral wall of the nasal cavity (English)

The anterior apertures to the nasal cavity are the nostrils (nares), while posteriorly the nasal cavity opens into the nasopharynx via the choanae. The cavity roof houses the cribriform plate, which allows the passage of olfactory fibers conveying the sense of smell. The hard palate is the floor, separating the nasal cavity from the oral cavity. The medial wall is formed anteriorly by cartilage and posteriorly by the very thin vomer bone and the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone. Both are covered by a thin, mucosal lining. The lateral wall of each nasal cavity exhibits three curved bony shelves. These are the superior, middle and inferior conchae. The conchae project medially into the nasal cavity forming four air channels through which inhaled air can flow, increasing the surface area between the lateral wall and the passing air. From inferior to superior the four air channels are the inferior nasal meatus, middle nasal meatus, superior nasal meatus and the sphenoethmoidal recess.