Nose and Sinus Air Flow Model

doi:10.4236/ns.2014.610068

Home > Journals > Biomedical & Life Sciences | Chemistry & Materials Science > NS

NS> Vol.6 No.10, June 2014

Open Access

Nose and Sinus Air Flow Model

Download as PDF (Size:989KB) HTML XML PP. 685-690

DOI: 10.4236/ns.2014.610068 1,663 Downloads 2,098 Views

Author(s) Leave a comment

R. De Luca, M. Gamerra, G. Sorrentino, E. Cantone

Affiliation(s)

Department of Physics "E. R. Caianiello", University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy.
Divisione di Otorinolaringoiatria, Ospedale “S. Leonardo”-A.S.L. NA 3 sud, Castellammare di Stabia, Italy.
Divisione di Otorinolaringoiatria, Ospedale “S. Leonardo”-A.S.L. NA 3 sud, Castellammare di Stabia, Italy.
Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Odontostomatologic Science, ENT Unit, “Federico II” University, Naples, Italy.

ABSTRACT

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.

KEYWORDS

Air Flow Model, Nose and Sinus, Bernoulli's Equation

Cite this paper

Luca, R. , Gamerra, M. , Sorrentino, G. and Cantone, E. (2014) Nose and Sinus Air Flow Model. Natural Science, 6, 685-690. doi: 10.4236/ns.2014.610068.

References

[1]	Stammberger, H. and Hawke, M. (1993) Essential of Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery. Mosby, St. Louis.

[2]	Messerklinger, W. (1978) Endoscopy of the Nose. Urban & Schwarzenberg, Baltimore.

[3]	Passali, D. (2003) Le rinosinusiti. Pacini Ed., Pisa.

[4]	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.

[5]	Halliday, D., Resnick, R. and Walker, J. (2001) Foundamentals of Physics. 5th Edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York.

[6]	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.

[7]	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.