THE ROLE OF THE TEMPERATURE OF THE NASAL LINING IN THE SENSATION OF NASAL PATENCY

The receptors and neural pathways involved in the common symptom of na sal blockage are of great interest. Studies to date suggest that the s ensation of nasal patency may be related to the temperature of the nas al passages. Sixty-two subjects were asked to assess their own nasal p atency subjectively and indicate this on a visual analogue scale. The temperature of the nasal lining was continuously recorded during quiet nasal respiration using a non-contact infrared thermometer. The coole r the nasal lining, the clearer the nose felt, and the greater the dro p in temperature on inspiration again the clearer the nose felt. The s tudy supports the previously proposed hypothesis that the sensation of nasal airflow is derived from a cooling of the nasal lining on inspir ation, and this is probably detected by cold thermoreceptors in the mu cosa.