Nasal vestibule wall elasticity: interactions with a nasal dilator strip

• Published in: Journal of applied physiology (1985) Vol. 86; no. 5; pp. 1638 - 1643
• Main Authors: Amis, T. C, Kirkness, J. P, di Somma, E, Wheatley, J. R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Am Physiological Soc 01.05.1999; American Physiological Society
• Subjects: Adult; Air breathing; Biological and medical sciences; Compliance; Elasticity; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nasal Cavity - anatomy & histology; Nasal Cavity - physiology; Nose; Respiratory system; Respiratory system: anatomy, metabolism, gas exchange, ventilatory mechanics, respiratory hemodynamics; Studies; Vertebrates: respiratory system; Vestibule, Labyrinth - anatomy & histology; Vestibule, Labyrinth - physiology; Biomechanics; Human; Wall; Upper respiratory tract; Nasal septum; Elasticity; Compliance(volume pressure)
• ISSN: 8750-7587; 1522-1601
• DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1999.86.5.1638

Department of Respiratory Medicine, Westmead Hospital, and University of Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales 2145, Australia We studied the effect of an adhesive external nasal dilator strip (ENDS) on external nasal geometry in 20 healthy Caucasian adults (10 men, 10 women; age 21-45 yr). The recoil force exerted by ENDS was estimated by bending the device ( n  = 10) with known weights. In the horizontal direction, a small/medium-sized ENDS in situ exerted a unilateral recoil force of 21.4-22.6 g. Application of ENDS resulted in a displacement of the lateral nasal vestibule walls that had both anterosuperior and horizontal components and that was maintained over an 8-h period. The resultant unilateral nasal vestibule wall displacement at the tip of the device was at 47.6 ± 2.0° to the horizontal (as related to the plane of the device when in situ) and had a magnitude of 3.5 ± 0.1 mm. ENDS increased external nasal cross-sectional area by 23.0-65.3 mm 2 . Nasal vestibule wall compliance was estimated at 0.05-0.16 mm/g. Thus ENDS applies a relatively constant abducting force irrespective of nasal width. Variable responsiveness to ENDS may be related to differences in elastic properties of the nasal vestibule wall. upper airway; pressure-flow relationships; nasal wall compliance