The role of the temperature of the nasal lining in the sensation of nasal patency

Abstract

The receptors and neural pathways involved in the common symptom of nasal blockage are of great interest. Studies to date suggest that the sensation of nasal patency may be related to the temperature of the nasal passages. Sixty-two subjects were asked to assess their own nasal patency subjectively and indicate this on a visual analogue scale. The temperature of the nasal lining was continuously recorded during quiet nasal respiration using a non-contact infrared thermometer. The cooler the nasal lining, the clearer the nose felt, and the greater the drop in temperature on inspiration again the clearer the nose felt. The study supports the previously proposed hypothesis that the sensation of nasal airflow is derived from a cooling of the nasal lining on inspiration, and this is probably detected by cold thermoreceptors in the mucosa.