Nasenwand

Nasenwand, literally “nasal wall” in German, is a term used to describe the structural walls that form the boundaries of the nasal cavity. Rather than a single anatomical structure, the Nasenwand comprises the medial wall (the nasal septum) and the lateral walls formed by bone, cartilage, and overlying mucosa. The term encompasses the tissues that separate the nasal cavity from the surrounding skull and face and that support the airflow and mucosal lining.

Medial wall: nasal septum, composed of the vomer and perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone with anterior cartilage. Lateral walls: the superior, middle, and inferior nasal conchae (turbinates) projecting from the lateral walls of the nasal cavity, plus the surrounding maxillary and ethmoidal bones. The nasal valve area marks the narrowest part of the airway.

Functions include directing airflow, humidifying and warming inhaled air, filtering particles via mucus and cilia, and supporting olfactory and immune roles. The mucosa rich in glands and ciliated cells helps condition inspired air and trap contaminants before they reach the lower airways.

Clinical relevance involves common issues affecting the Nasenwand such as deviation of the nasal septum, trauma, perforation, chronic rhinosinusitis, nasal obstruction, and nasal polyps. Treatments may include septoplasty to correct septal deviation; turbinate reduction or rhinoplasty to modify the lateral walls; conservative management of rhinitis; and imaging via CT in persistent cases.

See also: nasal cavity, nasal septum, turbinates, rhinitis.