SWELLING AND SHRINKAGE OF THE NASAL MUCOSA MEASURED BY ACOUSTIC RHINOMETRY

声学鼻腔测量仪测量鼻腔沿与鼻底和鼻中隔平行的轴线上每隔预定距离的横截面积。入射和反射声波的面积-距离曲线可以用FFT(快速傅立叶变换)来描绘。除前庭外，鼻腔的长度分为三部分。血管活性物质应用前后，通过对前、中、后三部分的数学积分，比较各部分的体积，羟甲唑啉和苯肾上腺素直接作用于受体，使鼻黏膜收缩。这种反应几乎完全被它们的拮抗剂所阻断。应用肾上腺素后观察到的晚期肿胀被认为是α_2诱导的，因为育亨宾对其有抑制作用。在浸泡在组胺或白三烯溶液或变应原提取物中的椎间盘附着后，同样可以观察到肿胀。鼻腔粘膜肿胀所致的鼻腔空间缩小是公认的，但其机制不稳定。鼻腔通畅度与横截面积的关系采用圆柱形模型，该模型由多个亚克力平板组成，中心有不同大小的孔。根据面积-距离曲线构建的模型的鼻腔通畅度比原来的鼻腔模型好得多。结果表明，尺寸连续变化的圆柱体的气流阻力受各种气动因素的影响。

Acoustic rhinometry measures cross-sectional areas of the nasal cavity at every predetermined distance along the axis parallel to the nasal floor and septum. An area-distance curve can be depicted using FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) from incident and reflected sound waves. The length of the nesal cavity excluding the vestibulum is divided into three parts. Comparison of the volume of each part was accomplished by mathematical integration of anterior, middle and posterior parts before and after application of the vasoactive agents.Oxymetazoline and phenylephrine directly affected the receptors and shrank the nasal mucosa. This reaction was almost completely blocked by pretreatment of their antagonists. Late swelling observed after application of epinephrine was considered to be alpha_2-induced because of its inhibition by yohimbine. Swelling was similarly observed after attachment of a disc soaked in histamine or leukotriene solution or allergen extracts. Decreased air space due to swollen mucosa was rcognized but was too unstable to understand its mechanism.Relationships between nasal patency and cross-sectional area were examined by cylindrical model consisting of plural acrylic plates with a variously sized hole in the center. Patency of a model constructed from an area-distance curve was rhinomanometrically much better than that of the original nasal cavity. It was concluded that airflow resistance of a cylinder with continuously changing dimensions was modified by various aerodynamic factors.