[Warming inhaled air in the nose].
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine whether the temperature at the end of inspiration is the same as the temperature a few seconds after breathing stops at the end of inspiration to study if the nasal mucosa are capable of providing heat during a cessation of breathing.


METHODS
Fifteen healthy volunteers were included in the study. The temperature at the end of inspiration was compared to the temperature obtained 5 s after cessation of breathing at the end of inspiration and at the end of expiration. Intranasal temperature measurements were taken at three locations in the nose with a miniaturized thermocouple.


RESULTS
The temperature increased during cessation of breathing at all locations. The highest temperature differences between the end of inspiration and 5 s later (breathing at rest) could be observed at the nasal valve area. The lowest temperature difference was found in the nasopharynx. At the end of expiration,the temperature decreased only slightly from the nasopharynx to the nasal valve area.


CONCLUSIONS
The anterior part of the nose in particular is capable of heating the inspired air. This is also important for humidification. Heating of inspired air requires special anatomical conditions of the anterior nasal segment.
Keck
T
T
Universitäts-HNO-Klinik Ulm. tilman.keck@medizin.uni-ulm.de
Leiacker
R
R
Meixner
D
D
Kühnemann
S
S
Rettinger
G
G
D000328:Adult; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000502:physiology*; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000502:physiology; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D014420:Turbinates / Q000502:physiology
Erwärmung der Atemluft in der Nase.