The Meatus of the Nose

Sphenopalatine Recess

• This space is posterosuperior to the superior concha.
• The sphenoidal sinus opens into this recess.

Superior Meatus

• This is a narrow passageway between the superior and middle nasal conchae.
• The posterior ethmoidal sinuses open into it by one or more orifices.

Middle Meatus

• This is longer and wider than the superior one.

• The anterosuperior part of this meatus lead into a funnel-shaped opening, called the infundibulum, through which the frontonasal duct leads to the frontal sinus.
• There is one duct for each frontal sinus and since there may be several, there may be several frontonasal ducts.

• When the middle concha is removed, rounded elevation called the ethmoidal bulla (L. bubble), is visible
• The middle ethmoidal air cells open on the surface of the ethmoidal bulla.

• Inferior to this bulla is a semicircular groove called the hiatus semilunaris.
• The frontal sinus opens into this hiatus anterosuperiorly.
• Near the hiatus are the openings of the anterior ethmoid air cells.
• The maxillary sinus also opens into the middle meatus.

Inferior Meatus

• This is a horizontal passage, inferolateral to the inferior nasal concha.
• The nasolacrimal duct opens into the anterior part of this meatus.
• Usually, the orifice of this duct is wide and circular.

The Layers of the Pharyngeal Wall

• The pharyngeal wall is composed of 5 layers. From internal to external, they are as follows.

• Mucous membrane: this lines the pharynx and is continuous with all chambers with which it communicates.

• Submucosa

• Pharyngobasilar fascia: this is a fibrous layer that is attached to the skull.

• Muscular layer: this is composed of inner longitudinal and outer circular parts.

• Buccopharyngeal fascia: this is a loose connective tissue layer.
• This fascia is continuous with the fascia covering the buccinator and pharyngeal muscle.
• It contains the pharyngeal plexus of nerves and veins.

The Soft Palate

• This is the posterior curtain-like part, and has no bony support. It does, however, contain a membranous aponeurosis.
• The soft palate, or velum palatinum (L. velum, veil), is a movable, fibromuscular fold that is attached to the posterior edge of the hard palate.
• It extends posteroinferiorly to a curved free margin from which hangs a conical process, the uvula (L. uva, grape).

• The soft palate separates the nasopharynx superiorly and the oropharynx inferiorly.

• During swallowing the soft palate moves posteriorly against the wall of the pharynx, preventing the regurgitation of food into the nasal cavity.

• Laterally, the soft palate is continuous with the wall of the pharynx and is joined to the tongue and pharynx by the palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal folds.

• The soft palate is strengthened by the palatine aponeurosis, formed by the expanded tendon of the tensor veli palatini muscle.
• This aponeurosis attaches to the posterior margin of the hard palate.

The Palate

• The palate forms the arched roof of the mouth and the floor of the nasal cavities.
• The palate consists of two regions: the anterior 2/3 or bony part, called the hard palate, and the mobile posterior 1/3 or fibromuscular part, known as the soft palate.

The Hard Palate

• The anterior bony part of the palate is formed by the palatine process of the maxillae and the horizontal plates of the palatine bones.

• Anteriorly and laterally, the hard palate is bounded by the alveolar processes and the gingivae.
• Posteriorly, the hard palate is continuous with the soft palate.

• The incisive foramen is the mouth of the incisive canal.
• This foramen is located posterior to the maxillary central incisor teeth.
• This foramen is the common opening for the right and left incisive canals.
• The incisive canal and foramen transmit the nasopalatine nerve and the terminal branches of the sphenopalatine artery.

• Medial to the third molar tooth, the greater palatine foramen pierces the lateral border of the bony palate.
• The greater palatine vessels and nerve emerge from this foramen and run anteriorly into two grooves on the palate.

• The lesser palatine foramen transmits the lesser palatine nerve and vessels.
• This runs to the soft palate and adjacent structures.

BONE

 A rigid form of CT, Consists of matrix and cells

 Matrix contains:

 organic component 35% collagen fibres

 inorganic salts 65% calcium phosphate (58,5%),  calcium carbonate (6,5%)

2 types of bone - spongy (concellous)

 compact (dense)

 Microscopic elements are the same

 Spongy bone consists of bars (trabeculae) which branch and unite to form a meshwork

 Spaces are filled with bone marrow

 Compact bone appears solid but has microscopic spaces

 In long bones the shaft is compact bone

 And the ends (epiphysis) consists of spongy bone covered with compact bone

Flat bones consists of 2 plates of compact bone with spongy bone in-between

 Periosteum covers the bone

 Endosteum lines marrow cavity and spaces

 These 2 layers play a role in the nutrition of bone tissue

 They constantly supply the bone with new osteoblasts for the repair and growth of bone

Microscopically

 The basic structural unit of bone is the Haversian system or osteon

 An osteon consists of a central Haversian canal

- In which lies vessels nerves and loose CT

- Around the central canal lies rings of lacunae

- A lacuna is a space in the matrix in which lies the osteocyte

- The lacunae are connected through canaliculi which radiate from the lacunae

- In the canaliculi are the processes of the osteocytes

- The canaliculi link up with one another and also with the Haversian canal

- The processes communicate with one another in the canaliculi through gap junctions

- Between two adjacent rows of lacunae lie the lamellae, 5-7µm thick

- In three dimensions the Haversian systems are cylindrical

- The collagen fibres lie in a spiral in the lamellae

- Perpendicular to the Haversian canals are the Volkman's canals

- They link up with the marrow cavity and the Haversian canals

- Some lamellae do not form part of a Haversian system

- They are the:

- Inner circumferential lamellae - around the marrow cavity

- Outer circumferential lamellae - underneath the outer surface of the bone

- Interstitial lamellae - between the osteons

Endosteum

Lines all cavities like marrow spaces, Haversian- and Volkman's canals

Consists of a single layer of squamous osteoprogenitor cells with a thin reticular CT layer underneath it

Continuous with the inner layer of periosteum

Covers the trabeculae of spongy bone

Cells differentiate into osteoblasts (like the cells of the periosteum)

Periosteum

 Formed by tough CT

 2 layers

Outer fibrous layer:  Thickest, Contains collagen fibres,

Some fibres enter the bone - called Sharpey's fibres

Contains blood vessels.

Also fibrocytes and the other cells found in common CT

Inner cellular layer

Flattened cells (continuous with the endosteum)

Can divide and differentiate into osteoprogenitor cells

spindle shaped

little amount of rough EPR

poorly developed Golgi complex

play a prominent role in bone growth and repair

Osteoblasts

Oval in shape, Have thin processes, Rough EPR in one part of the cell (basophilic)

On the other side is the nucleus, Golgi and the centrioles in the middle, Form matrix

Become trapped in the matrix

Osteocytes

Mature cells, Less basophilic than the osteoblasts, Lie trapped in the lacunae, Their processes lie in the canaliculi, Processes communicate with one another through gap junctions, Substances (nutrients, waste products) are passed on from cell to cell

Osteoclasts

 Very large,  Multinucleate (up to 50),  On inner and outer surface of bone,  Lie in depressions on the surface called Howships lacunae,  The cell surface facing the bone has short irregular processes

Acidophylic

 Has many lysosomes, polyribosomes and rough EPR

 Lysosomal enzymes are secreted to digest the bone

 Resorbs the organic part of bone

Histogenesis

Two types of bone development.

- intramembranous ossification

- endochondral ossification

In both these types of bone development temporary primary bone is deposited which is soon replaced by secondary bone. Primary bone has more osteocytes and the mineral content is lower.

The Eye and Orbit

• The orbit (eye socket) appears as a bony recess in the skull when it is viewed from anteriorly.
• It almost surrounds the eye and their associated muscles, nerves and vessels, together with the lacrimal apparatus.

• The orbit is shaped somewhat like a four-side pyramid lying on its side, with its apex pointing posteriorly and its base anteriorly.