Inferior nasal concha

Inferior nasal concha or inferior turbinate/turbinal
Medial wall of left orbit. (Inferior nasal concha visible in center in yellow.)
Figure 1: Lateral wall of right nasal cavity showing inferior concha in situ. (pink)
Details
Articulations	Ethmoid, maxilla, lacrimal and palatine bone
Identifiers
Latin	Concha nasi inferior, concha nasalis inferior
TA	A02.1.08.001 A06.1.02.015
FMA	54736
Anatomical terms of bone []

The inferior nasal concha (inferior turbinated bone or inferior turbinal/turbinate) is one of the turbinates in the nose. It extends horizontally along the lateral wall of the nasal cavity and consists of a of spongy bone, curled upon itself like a scroll. The inferior nasal conchae are considered a pair of facial bones. They are also termed 'inferior nasal turbinates' because they function similar to that of a turbine: As the air passes through the turbinates, the air is churned against these mucosa-lined bones in order to receive warmth, moisture and cleansing. Superior to inferior nasal concha are the middle nasal concha and superior nasal concha which arise from the cranial portion of the skull. Hence, these two are considered as a part of the cranial bones.

It has two surfaces, two borders, and two extremities.

The medial surface is , perforated by numerous apertures, and traversed by longitudinal grooves for the lodgement of vessels.

The lateral surface is , and forms part of the inferior meatus.

Its upper border is thin, irregular, and connected to various bones along the lateral wall of the nasal cavity.

It may be divided into three portions: of these,

The inferior border is free, thick, and cellular in structure, more especially in the middle of the bone.

Both extremities are more or less pointed, the posterior being the more tapering.

The inferior nasal concha is ossified from a single center, which appears about the fifth month of fetal life in the lateral wall of the cartilaginous nasal capsule.

Lateral wall of nasal cavity, showing ethmoid bone in position.

Nasal conchae

Left maxilla. Nasal surface.

Right inferior nasal concha. Medial surface.

Right inferior nasal concha. Lateral surface.

The skull from the front.

Sagittal section of skull.

Roof, floor, and lateral wall of left nasal cavity.

The sphenopalatine ganglion and its branches.

Coronal section of nasal cavities.

Sagittal section of nose mouth, pharynx, and larynx.

Human skull. Inferior nasal concha.

Human skull. Inferior nasal concha.

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)