inferior nasal concha

For the cranial structure, see Maxillary process of inferior nasal concha.

Inferior nasal concha (2)

More anteriorly is an oblique ridge, the conchal crest, for articulation with the inferior nasal concha.

The inferior nasal concha (inferior turbinated bone) is one of the turbinates in the nose.

Each inferior nasal concha is considered a pair of facial bones since they arise from the maxillae bones and projects horizontally into the nasal cavity.

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.

The human palatine articulates with six bones: the sphenoid, ethmoid, maxilla, inferior nasal concha, vomer and opposite palatine.

Superior to inferior nasal concha are the middle nasal concha and superior nasal concha which arise from the cranial portion of the skull.

The lacrimal articulates with four bones: two of the cranium, the frontal and ethmoid, and two of the face, the maxilla and the inferior nasal concha.

The Eustachian tube extends from the anterior wall of the middle ear to the lateral wall of the nasopharynx, approximately at the level of the inferior nasal concha.

The irregular bones are: the vertebræ, sacrum, coccyx, temporal, sphenoid, ethmoid, zygomatic, maxilla, mandible, palatine, inferior nasal concha, and hyoid.

From the lower border of the inferior nasal concha, a thin lamina, the maxillary process, curves downward and laterally; it articulates with the maxilla and forms a part of the medial wall of the maxillary sinus.

It is bounded inferiorly and anteriorly by the sharp concave margin of the uncinate process of the ethmoid bone, superiorly by the ethmoidal bulla, and posteriorly by the ethmoidal process of the inferior nasal concha.

Below the bulla ethmoidalis and hidden by the uncinate process of the ethmoid is the opening of the maxillary sinus (ostium maxillare); an accessory opening is frequently present above the posterior part of the inferior nasal concha.

In front of the opening of the sinus is a deep groove, the lacrimal groove, which is converted into the nasolacrimal canal, by the lacrimal bone and inferior nasal concha; this canal opens into the inferior meatus of the nose and transmits the nasolacrimal duct.