Acoustic rhinometry: values from adults with subjective normal nasal patency.

The nose with normal feeling of nasal patency, and no gross structural changes has been described in 82 individuals by acoustic rhinometry. Curves for one and both sides of the nasal cavity and before and after decongestion have been recorded. We have found that the minimal cross-sectional area (MCA) is located anteriorly in the nasal cavity; in some subjects it is localized at the head of the inferior turbinate and in other subjects more anteriorly at the nasal valve. After decongestion MCA moves even more anteriorly. Beyond the MCA the dimension of the nasal cavity increases, with maximal effect of decongestion at 4 cm from nostrils. Decongestion increases the total volume of the nasal cavity by 35%.