Die Temperatur- und Feuchtigkeitsverhältnisse der Atemluft in den Luftwegen

Nasopharyngeal morphology contributes to understanding the “muddle in the middle” of the Pleistocene hominin fossil record

“…Anteroposteriorly elongated nasal cavities have been observed among H. sapiens populations from cold climates as a means of increasing mucosal surface area (e.g., Evteev et al, 2014; Noback et al, 2011) and the continued elongation of the H. neanderthalensis postnasal airway may also achieve a similar functional outcome. Despite the primary role of the nasal cavity in warming and humidifying inspiratory airflow, subsequent warming and humidification occurs in the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and trachea, all of which contribute substantially to the conditioning of cold, dry ambient air before reaching the lungs (e.g., Naclerio et al, 2007; Perwitzschky, 1928). A medial projection of bone at the anterior nasal cavity of H. neanderthalensis (Laitman et al, 1996; Márquez et al, 2014; Schwartz & Tattersall, 1996; Schwartz et al, 2008) has been proposed to offer greater turbidity to inspiratory airflow and increased surface area for warming and humidifying cold, dry ambient air.…”

Numerical simulation and nasal air-conditioning

“…Perwitzschky used in early studies a mercury thermometer and calcium chloride as humidity adsorbent to measure humidity within the nasopharynx of volunteers [51], [52]. Calcium chloride is a hygroscopic salt that gains weight by absorption of water.…”