Nasal valve: anatomy and physiology.
The anterior portion of the nasal cavities, from the nostril to the nasal valve (NV), is the place of highest nasal resistance to airflow, paramount to nasal physiology. There are different terminologies for the same anatomic structures in the literature.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this paper was to study the NV function and define clearly the structures of the anterior portion of the nasal cavities, mainly the region of the NV.


CONCLUSIONS
Internum ostium is the anterior segment and isthmus nasi is the posterior segment of the NV region.
Nigro
Carlos Eduardo Nazareth
CE
Otorhinolaryngology - Faculdade de Medicina de Taubaté, UNITAU. carlos@otorrinoclinica.com.br
Nigro
Josiane Faria de Aguiar
JF
Mion
Olavo
O
Mello
João Ferreira
JF
D006801:Humans; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000502:physiology; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D025363:Rhinomanometry; D023842:Rhinometry, Acoustic