Analyses on the influence of normal nasal morphological variations on odorant transport to the olfactory cleft

Abstract

Objective

Olfaction requires a combination of sensorineural components and conductive components, but conductive mechanisms have not typically received much attention. This study investigates the role of normal nasal vestibule morphological variations in ten healthy subjects on odorant flux in the olfactory cleft.

Materials and methods

Computed tomography images were used to create subject-specific nasal models. Each subject’s unilateral nasal cavity was classified according to its nasal vestibule shape as Standard or Notched. Inspiratory airflow simulations were performed at 15 L/min, simulating resting inspiration using computational fluid dynamics modeling. Odorant transport simulations for three odorants (limonene, 2,4-dinitrotoluene, and acetaldehyde) were then performed at concentrations of 200 ppm for limonene and acetaldehyde, and 0.2 ppm for dinitrotoluene. Olfactory cleft odorant flux was computed for each simulation.

Results and discussion and conclusion

Simulated results showed airflow in the olfactory cleft was greater in the Standard phenotype compared to the Notched phenotype. For Standard, median airflow was greatest in the anterior region (0.5006 L/min) and lowest in the posterior region (0.1009 L/min). Median airflow in Notched was greatest in the medial region (0.3267 L/min) and lowest in the posterior region (0.0756 L/min). Median olfactory odorant flux for acetaldehyde and limonene was greater in Standard (Acetaldehyde: Standard = 140.45 pg/cm²-s; Notched = 122.20 pg/cm²-s. Limonene: Standard = 0.67 pg/cm²-s; Notched = 0.65 pg/cm²-s). Median dinitrotoluene flux was greater in Notched (Standard = 2.86 × 10⁻⁴pg/cm²-s; Notched = 4.29 × 10⁻⁴ pg/cm²-s). The impact of nasal vestibule morphological variations on odorant flux at the olfactory cleft may have implications on individual differences in olfaction, which should be investigated further.

Keywords:

• Acetaldehyde
• computational fluid dynamics
• dinitrotoluene
• limonene
• olfaction

Acknowledgments

This research was supported in part by the National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R01DE028554. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. In addition, special thanks to ANSYS, ANSYS Global Academic Program, and Dr Paolo Maccarini (Duke University) for support and strategic donation.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The United States National Institutes of Health funded this work under Award Number R01DE028554.