title: Nasal cavity geometry of healthy adults assessed using acoustic rhinometry.
abstract: Acoustic rhinometry (AR) has been used as a specific test for nasal patency.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  this study aimed to set the reference values for nasal cavity cross-section geometry in healthy adults through AR.
  
  
  METHODS
  this is a clinical prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  thirty volunteers (14 males and 16 females) without signs of nasal obstruction and aged between 18 and 30 years were enrolled in this study. They were assessed before and after being treated topically with a nasal vasoconstrictor drug. Their nasal cross-sectional areas were measured at the three dips of the rhinogram, corresponding respectively to the nasal valve (CSA1), the anterior (CSA2), and the posterior (CSA3) region of the inferior and middle turbinate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the mean areas (+/-SD) for 60 nasal cavities before nasal vasoconstriction were: 0.54+/-0.13cm2 (CSA1), 0.98+/-0.31 cm2 (CSA2), and 1.42+/-0.44cm2 (CSA3). After vasoconstriction, the mean values of the three segments analyzed were significantly larger (p<0.05). Gender was not a statistically significant variable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The nasal cross-sectional areas obtained for adults may be used for control purposes when studying patients with nasal obstruction, in conjunction with the nasal volume values previously reported by our group.
authors.affiliation: MSc at the Graduate Program on Rehabilitation Sciences at Hospital de Reabilitação de Anomalias Craniofaciais (HRAC-USP). PhD student at the Graduate Program on Rehabilitation Sciences at HRAC-USP, Physiology Laboratory, Bauru-SP.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Oliveira Camargo Gomes
authors.affiliation: PhD at the Graduate Program on Rehabilitation Sciences at HRAC-USP. Physiologist at the Physiology Laboratory, HRAC-USP, Bauru-SP.
authors.forename: Ana Claudia Martins
authors.initials: ACM
authors.lastname: Sampaio-Teixeira
authors.affiliation: Specialist on Otorhinolaryngology, PhD student at the Graduate Program on Otorhinolaryngology at Faculdade de Medicina (FMUSP). MD, otorhinolaryngologist at Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual-SP, Hospital Estadual de Bauru-SP and Hospital das Clínicas-FMUSP-SP.
authors.forename: Sergio Henrique Kiemle
authors.initials: SHK
authors.lastname: Trindade
authors.affiliation: Full Professor - Department of Biologic Sciences at Faculdade de Bauru-USP and at the Physiology Laboratory at HRAC-USP, Bauru-SP. Hospital de Reabilitação de Anomalias Craniofaciais Universidade de São Paulo. Electronic address: ingetrin@usp.br.
authors.forename: Inge Elly Kiemle
authors.initials: IEK
authors.lastname: Trindade
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D023842:Rhinometry, Acoustic; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents