What Is an Inferior Turbinate?

There are two pieces, which are curly and form part of the outer wall of the nasal cavity. They perform the same function as the upper and middle turbinates, allowing air to enter the lungs before circulation and filtering. However, the lower turbinate is a separate bone and not part of the ethmoid.

There are two pieces, which are curly and form part of the outer wall of the nasal cavity. They perform the same function as the upper and middle turbinates, allowing air to enter the lungs before circulation and filtering. However, the lower turbinate is a separate bone and not part of the ethmoid.

Chinese name

Lower turbinate

Shape

Curled up

Features

Circulation and filtering of air before it enters the lungs

Function

Forms part of the outer wall of the nasal cavity

Inferior Turbinate Anatomy

The inferior turbinate is located at the bottom of the outer wall of the nasal cavity and consists of the inferior turbinate bone and the turbinate condyle. The mucous membrane covered by the surface is thick. Its free edge protrudes toward the base of the nose, the lowest point is about 19mm from the base of the nose, the shortest distance between the side wall and the nasal compartment is about 7mm, and the rear end is 1cm from the eustachian tube.

Inferior turbinate artery

The inferior turbinate artery starts from the posterior lateral nasal artery slightly below the middle turbinate attachment site, and the outer diameter at the beginning is (0.70 ± 0.02). The starting point is about 3cm below the rear end of the middle turbinate attachment. After the start, it descends vertically. Enter the back of the lower turbinate through the mucosa behind the middle nasal passage. The branches are distributed in the inferior turbinate and lower nasal canal, and there are branches that coincide with the middle turbinate artery. The outer diameter of the inferior turbinate of the inferior turbinate artery is (0.60 ± 0.02) mm, and the trunk length is about 3.5 cm.

Lower turbinate discussion

Although the arterial source of the nasal cavity has been recorded in many textbooks and monographs, there are few special reports on branches, strokes and clinical applications. The observation results show that the inferior turbinate artery is the main blood supply source of the inferior turbinate and the lower nasal passage, and there is an anastomosis with the middle turbinate artery. The inferior turbinate artery runs under the mucosa at the junction between the inferior turbinate and the upper and lower sides of the inferior turbinate. Therefore, when hypertrophic rhinitis is performed under the inferior turbinate, as long as the resection does not exceed 2/3 of the entire inferior turbinate, it is generally not harmful. Turbinate artery. Regarding the inferior turbinate partial excision of hypertrophic rhinitis, there are different opinions in the literature on how much the inferior turbinate is removed, and more are advocated for less resection to avoid atrophic rhinitis. But Zheng Liyou and others recently reported that 2/3 of the lower turbinate is better than less. Therefore, in addition to atrophic rhinitis after partial inferior turbinate resection, in addition to excessive inferior turbinate resection, is not due to improper surgical methods leading to inferior turbinate artery damage, causing postoperative mucosal atrophy needs further exploration. Therefore, the surgeon should have a more detailed understanding of the inferior turbinate artery, in order to correctly design the operation method, reduce intraoperative bleeding, and improve the surgical effect.