Bone
Nasal conchae
Bony shelves covered by vascular nasal mucosa
High-yield
The inferior concha is a separate facial bone. The middle and superior conchae belong to the ethmoid; an air cell within a concha is called a concha bullosa.
Overview
The curved conchae increase the mucosal surface available for warming and humidifying air. Their shape also influences airflow resistance and distribution. Flow is not uniformly turbulent: its pattern changes with breathing rate and individual nasal geometry.
Reference facts
- Bone type
- Middle and superior conchae: ethmoidal projections. Inferior concha: an independent paired bone.
- Key landmarks
- Each shelf overhangs a meatus. The middle meatus contains the ethmoidal bulla and uncinate region; a small supreme concha is an anatomical variant.
- Articulations
- The inferior concha meets the maxilla, palatine, lacrimal and ethmoid bones. The other usual conchae are continuous with the ethmoidal labyrinth.
- Ossification
- The inferior concha develops its own endochondral ossification center in the fetal nasal capsule; the middle and superior conchae develop with the ethmoid.
Clinical correlation
Enlargement of turbinate mucosa, sometimes with bony enlargement, can obstruct breathing. A concha bullosa may crowd a drainage region, but its presence alone does not establish the cause of sinus disease.
Frequently asked questions
What type of bone are the nasal conchae?
Middle and superior conchae: ethmoidal projections. Inferior concha: an independent paired bone.
What do the nasal conchae articulate with?
The inferior concha meets the maxilla, palatine, lacrimal and ethmoid bones. The other usual conchae are continuous with the ethmoidal labyrinth.
What are the key landmarks of the nasal conchae?
Each shelf overhangs a meatus. The middle meatus contains the ethmoidal bulla and uncinate region; a small supreme concha is an anatomical variant.
When do the nasal conchae ossify?
The inferior concha develops its own endochondral ossification center in the fetal nasal capsule; the middle and superior conchae develop with the ethmoid.