Air flow in nose and sinuses is studied by means of
a simple model based on the steady-state ideal fluid flow assumption and repeated use of Bernoulli’s equation. In particular, by
describing flow of air drawn in through the vestibulumnasi during inspiration,
we investigate how ventilation of the maxillary sinus is affected by surgical
removal of part of the lateral walls of the nasal cavity close to the ostiummeatal complex. We find that, according to the model
proposed, removal of tissues from this inner part of the nasal cavity may cause
a decrease of the flux rate from the maxillary sinus.
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Messerklinger, W. (1978) Endoscopy of the Nose. Urban & Schwarzenberg, Baltimore.
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Bruno, R., Gamerra, M., Porpora, D., Pagano, G., Napolitano, B. and Bruno, E. (2004) Nose: Aesthetics and Function. Anales Otorrinolaringológicos Ibero-Americanos, 31, 307-323.
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Halliday, D., Resnick, R. and Walker, J. (2001) Foundamentals of Physics. 5th Edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York.
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Gamerra, M. and De Luca, R. (2004) Un modello semplice per descrivere gli effetti sulla ventilazione sinusale del flusso d’aria immessa nella cavità nasale. Giornale di Fisica, XLV, 225-228.
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Gamerra, M., De Luca, R., Pagano, G., Merone, M. and Cassano, M. (2013) The Nose and Sinus Manometry: A Biophysical Model Applied to Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery. Journal of Biological Regulators and Homeostatic Agents, 27, 1021-1027.
