title: Adult nasal volumes assessed by acoustic rhinometry.
abstract: Acoustic rhinometry allows an objective and non-invasive assessment of nasal geometry.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study aimed at determining the volumes of specific segments of the nasal cavity in healthy adults including the nasopharynx, using acoustic rhinometry.
  
  
  METHODS
  A clinical prospective analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty volunteers with no evidence of nasal obstruction, aged 18 to 30 years (14 males and 16 females) were analyzed. Volumes were measured at the nasal valve region (V1), the turbinates (V2), and the nasopharynx (V3), before and after application of a topical nasal vasoconstrictor.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean volumes measured in 60 cavities before nasal decongestion, were: 1.81+/-0.35 cm(3) (V1), 4.02+/-1.41 cm(3) (V2), and 17.52+/-4.44 cm(3) (V3) for males, and 1.58+/-0.25 cm(3) (V1), 3.94+/-1.03 cm(3) (V2), and 17.80+/-2.73 cm(3) (V3) for females. Gender differences were only significant in V1 (p<0.05). After nasal decongestion, the volumes of all the analyzed segments were significantly larger (p<0.05), and the gender differences were significant for V1 and V2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Volumes of the three segments in adults with no evidence of nasal obstruction may be used as reference values for other studies.
authors.affiliation: Biological Science Department, Bauro Dentistry School--USP, Bauro, SP, Brazil. ingetrin@usp.br
authors.forename: Inge Elly Kiemle
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Trindade
authors.forename: Adriana de Oliveira Camargo
authors.initials: Ade O
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Ana Claudia Martins
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Sampaio-Teixeira
authors.forename: Sergio Henrique Kiemle
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Trindade
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000187:drug effects; D014663:Nasal Decongestants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D023842:Rhinometry, Acoustic; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D014663:Nasal Decongestants