Nasal cycle

This article is about the natural partial congestion of the nose. For nasal congestion as a symptom, see Nasal congestion.
A CT scan showing evidence of the nasal cycle: the more patent airway is on the right of the image, the swollen turbinates congesting the left

The nasal cycle is the subconscious[1][2] alternating partial congestion and decongestion of the nasal cavities in humans and other animals. This results in greater airflow through one nostril with periodic alternation between the nostrils. It is a physiological congestion of the nasal conchae, also called the nasal turbinates (curled bony projections within the nasal cavities), due to selective activation of one half of the autonomic nervous system by the hypothalamus. It should not be confused with pathological nasal congestion.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference josephson2006sinus was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Huizing, E. H.; de Groot, J. A. M. (2003). Functional Reconstructive Nasal Surgery. Thieme. p. 52. ISBN 978-1-58890-081-4.