Accessory Nasal Structures in Toxicology Studies

Abstract

In addition to air conditioning, the nose has a range of sensory functions that render this organ structurally complex due to the presence of diverse accessory structures, including the vomeronasal and septal olfactory organ, an array of mucoserous glands, and the trigeminal and other sensory nerve endings. The supporting structures of the nasal airways are beautifully “engineered” to permit integration of the nose and its accessory organs with adjacent structural components of the head, including the nasolacrimal and incisive ducts, and the bones of the maxilla and anterior cranial vault. A bilaterally symmetric architecture, comprised of muscle, bone, cartilage, nerves; blood vessels, and other connective tissue, is well adapted to the functional integrity of this organ. The purpose of this article is to consider the accessory and supporting nasal structures from the perspective of toxicologic pathology. Brief descriptions of selected spontaneous and treatment-related lesions are presented.