[The 3-D reconstruction of the nasal airway to model and analyze the airflow].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the nasal airflow-field in relation with the structure and function of the human nose.


METHODS
The 3-D finite-element mesh is developed from Spiral- CT imaging scans of the 25 healthy volunteers' noses. Given three preconditions, the nasal air-flow is described by the Navier-Stokes and continuity equations at the inspiratory flow rate of 10 min, then the whole airflow patterns are obtained for further analysis.


RESULTS
(1) In 5 cases, the airflow passes mainly through the middle medial region in both sides in the nasal airway. In remaining 20 cases, the airflow passes mainly through the middle and ventral medial regions in one side in the nasal cavity while little air passes through middle medial regions in another the other side through which little air passes. (2) The differences of velocity in the nasal valve, middle and ventral medial regions of the nasal airway between mainly side and non maingnot-mainly side are of statistical significance, while those in the olfactory split, middle and inferior meatuses in both sides are of no statistical significance. (3) In the mainly side, the most rapid air speed occurred in the nasal valve , the second rapid velocity in the middle medial region and the third in the ventral medial regions, the slowest velocity in the olfactory split, middle and inferior meatuses. In notion- mainly side, the velocity in all regions is slow without statistical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
(1) At the inspiratory flow rate of 10 L/min, the middle and ventral medial regions act as the main airways in nasal cavity. (2) The airflow in nasal cavity can be directed effectively and reasonably by nasal valve, inferior turbinate, middle turbinate in turn, which may be consistent with the nasal cycle functionally.
Sun
Xiuzhen
X
Department of Otolaryngology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116027, China.
Liu
Yingxi
Y
Su
Yingfeng
Y
Yu
Shen
S
Wang
Jizhe
J
Zhang
Jun
J
D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed