alleryStart learning →What do the nasal conchae accomplish as air enters the nose?
AThey warm blood before it reaches the nose
BThey seal the nasal cavity during swallowing
CThey increase surface area and disrupt airflow
DThey produce the mucus that traps debris
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. They increase surface area and disrupt airflow
1. The conchae are bony projections on each lateral wall of the nasal cavity.
2. They increase the surface area of the cavity and disrupt the flow of air, so incoming air bounces along the epithelium.
3. That bouncing is what allows the air to be cleaned and warmed, so the third option is correct.
4. Mucus is produced by goblet cells of the respiratory epithelium rather than by the conchae themselves.
5. Closing off the nasal cavity during swallowing is the job of the uvula and soft palate, which rules out the second option.
_Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology (CC BY 4.0), Ch 22 "The Respiratory System", section 22.1 Organs and Structures of the Respiratory System_
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