[Measurement of minimal cross-sectional area of the nasal cavity and distance of minimal cross-section area from the nostril in healthy Chinese by acoustic rhinometry].

1,355 healthy Chinese, 3-86 years old, were measured with acoustic rhinometry. The range of normal value of minimal cross-sectional area (MCA) of the nasal cavity and distance of minimal cross-section area from the nostril (DCA) were obtained and the association of MCA and DCA with age in children and juvenile were discussed. The results showed that the range of MCA of unilateral nasal cavity was 0.192-0.915 cm2, DCA was 0.300-2.554 cm. The changes of MCA and DCA were highly associated with age in children and juvenile (P < 0.01). In adults, there was significant difference of MCA and DCA between different sexes in the different groups. It was demonstrated that these data could provide available information for the study of nasal physiology and pathophysiology, as well as for the diagnosis and judgement of therapeutic effectiveness of nasal diseases.