ANALYSIS OF AIR-FLOW PATTERNS IN THE HUMAN NOSE

The nasal cavity is the main passage for air flow between the ambient atmosphere and the lungs. A preliminary requisite for any investigatio n of the mechanisms of each of its main physiological functions, such as filtration, air-conditioning and olfaction, is a basic knowledge of the air-flow pattern in this cavity. However, its complex three-dimen sional structure and inaccessibility has traditionally prevented a det ailed examination of internal in vivo or in vitro airflow patterns. To gain more insight into the flow pattern in inaccessible regions of th e nasal cavity we have conducted a mathematical simulation of asymmetr ic airflow patterns through the nose Development of a nose-like model, which resembles the complex structure of the nasal cavity, has allowe d for a detailed analysis of various boundary conditions and structura l parameters. The coronal and sagittal cross-sections of the cavity we re modeled as trapezoids. The inferior and middle turbinates were repr esented by curved plates that emerge from the lateral walls. The airfl ow was considered to be incompressible, steady and laminar. Numerical computations show that the main air flux is along the cavity floor, wh ile the turbinate structures direct the flow in an anterior-posterior direction. The presence of the turbinates and the trapezoidal shape of the cavity force more air flux towards the olfactory organs at the to p of the cavity.