• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.65-70
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• 2011

Three major physiological functions of nose can be described as air-conditioning, filtering and smelling. Detailed knowledge of airflow characteristics in nasal cavities is essential to understanding of the physiological and pathological aspects of nasal breathing. In our laboratory, a series of experimental investigations have been conducted on the airflows in normal and abnormal nasal cavity models by means of PIV under both constant and periodic flow conditions. In this work, more specifically experimental and numerical results on the surgically modified inferior turbinate model were presented. With the high resolution CT data and a careful treatment of the model surface under the ENT doctor's advice yielded quite sophisticated cavity models for the PIV experiment. Physiological nature of the airflow was discussed in terms of velocity distribution and vortical structure for constant inspirational flow. Since the inferior and middle turbinate are key determinants of nasal airflow, the turbinectomy obviously altered the main stream direction. This phenomenon may cause local changes in physiological function and the flow resistance.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.419-424
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• 2012

In addition to respiration, the nose performs three other major physiological functions-air-conditioning, filtering, and smelling. On the basis of our experience in experimental investigations of nasal airflows in normal and abnormal nasal cavity models, airflows in the normal model and three artificially deformed models, which simulate the results of surgical treatments (inferior turbinectomy), are investigated by PIV and CFD. The left cavities of all three models are normal, and the right cavities are modified as follows: (1) excision of the head of the inferior turbinate, (2) resection of the lower fifth of the inferior turbinate, and (3) resection of almost the entire inferior turbinate. The use of high-resolution CT data and careful surface rendering of three-dimensional computer models with the help of an ENT doctor provide more sophisticated nasal cavity models. Nasal airflows for both normal and deformed cases are also compared.