Aerodynamic Features of the Olfactory area in Nasal Breathing

Abstract

The passive of air through the upper nasal passage ensures the delivery of odorivector molecules to sensitive areas of the olfactory analyzer. The study of the characteristics of the air flow in the upper nasal passage allows us to determine the boundaries of the near-wall laminar air sublayer and to study nasal aerodynamics at the micro level. Turbulent flow contributes to the excessive drying of the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity, leading to its morphological rearrangement towards the subatrophic process. It was found out that the thickness of the laminar sublayer is about 1 mm, therefore, the lining of the mucous membrane is subjected to drying with an increase in the turbulence of the flow at the sites of narrowing of the nasal cavity (olfactory cleft).