Air-conditioning characteristics of the human nose.
Nasal inspiration is important for maintaining the internal milieu of the lung, since ambient air is conditioned to nearly alveolar conditions (body temperature and fully saturated with water vapour) upon reaching the nasopharynx. This literature review of the existing in vivo, in vitro and computational studies on transport phenomena that take place within the human nasal cavity summarizes the current knowledge on air-conditioning characteristics of the human nose.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The H. Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer 52621, Israel.
Michael
M
Wolf
Sara
S
Naftali
Robert C
RC
Schroter
David
D
Elad
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000388:Air; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000502:physiology; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology