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Equine Upper Respiratory Tract - Horse Anatomy (view source)
Revision as of 15:29, 18 November 2012
, 15:29, 18 November 2012no edit summary
==Nose==
==Nose==
The nares are supported by nasal cartilages. Unlike other species the ventral and dorsal lateral nasal cartilages, which attach to the rostral end of the nasal septum, do not contact each other. In the hose, the dorsal and ventral cartilages are indistinct or absent. Instead, horses have '''alar cartilages''' to support the nostrils, but the lateral walls of the nostrils remain unsupported; allowing greater mobility. The alar cartilages divide the nostril into the dorsal ('false nostril') and ventral ('true nostril'). The dorsal nostril leads to a blind-ending diverticulum in the nasoincisive notch. The ventral nostril leads to the nasal cavity. This is important when placing a nasogastric tube, which must be inserted ventrally.
The nares are supported by nasal cartilages. Unlike other species the ventral and dorsal lateral nasal cartilages, which attach to the rostral end of the nasal septum, do not contact each other. In the hose, the dorsal and ventral cartilages are indistinct or absent. Instead, horses have '''alar cartilages''' to support the nostrils, but the lateral walls of the nostrils remain unsupported; allowing greater mobility. The alar cartilages divide the nostril into the dorsal ('false nostril') and ventral ('true nostril'). The dorsal nostril leads to a blind-ending diverticulum in the nasoincisive notch. The ventral nostril leads to the nasal cavity. This is important when placing a nasogastric tube, which must be inserted ventrally.
Another species difference is that the nasolacrimal duct opens at the nasal puncta on the ventral floor of the nasal vestibule close to the transition point between the nasal mucosa and the nostril.
==Nasal Cavity==
==Nasal Cavity==
The nasal cavity is the area between the nostrils and the cribiform plate, it is divided by a septum into right and left sides. The '''nasal conchae''' (ethmoid turbinates) are scroll-shaped bones covered with nasal mucosa that project into the nasal cavity. The first endoturbinate is the base of the dorsal nasal conchae. It extends the furthest into the nasal cavity. The second endoturbinate forms the middle nasal concha. Subsequent turbinates are much smaller. The ventral nasal conchus is not formed by turbinates, but by the maxilla.
The conchae divide the nasal cavity into three meatuses, which form a common meatus near the nasal septum.
*Dorsal nasal meatus: Between the dorsal nasal meatus and the dorsal concha. It leads directly to the nasal cavity.
*Middle nasal meatus: Between the dorsal and ventral nasal conchae, communicates with paranasal sinuses.
*Ventral nasal meatus: Between the floor of the nasal cavity and the ventral nasal concha. This is the main passage of airflow to the nasal cavity.
*Common nasal meatus: Either side of the nasal septum, communicates with all other meatus.
==Paranasal Sinuses==
==Paranasal Sinuses==