nasal concha

anatomy

Also known as: nasal turbinal, turbinal, turbinate

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Also called:: turbinate or turbinal

Related Topics:: nasal cavity

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nasal concha, any of several thin, scroll-shaped bony elements forming the upper chambers of the nasal cavities. They increase the surface area of these cavities, thus providing for rapid warming and humidification of air as it passes to the lungs. In higher vertebrates the olfactory epithelium is associated with these upper chambers, resulting in keener sense of smell. In humans, who are less dependent on the sense of smell, the nasal conchae are much reduced. The components of the nasal conchae are the inferior, medial, superior, and supreme turbinates.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Michele Metych.