Analysis of transport patterns in the human nose in healthy and pathological states

Nasal inspiration is important for maintaining the internal environment of the lung, since it equilibrates ambient air with alveolar conditions (body temperature and fully saturated water vapor) on reaching the nasopharynx. The authors conducted a computational study of unsteady air flow and transport phenomena in a nose-like model. The results of the present 3D simulation revealed that about 80% of the daily consumed heat and humidity are transferred to the inspired air through the nasal cavity.