Morphological and radiologic evaluation of the human nasopalatine duct

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

  • Michael Knecht - , Technische Universität Dresden, Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde (Autor:in)
  • Karl Bernd Hüttenbrink - , Universitätsklinikum Köln (Autor:in)
  • Thomas Kittner - , Technische Universität Dresden, Institut und Poliklinik für diagnostische und interventionelle Radiologie (Autor:in)
  • Thomas Hummel - , Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde (Autor:in)
  • Thomas Beleites - , Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde (Autor:in)
  • Martin Witt - , Technische Universität Dresden, Institut für Anatomie (Autor:in)

Abstract

In several mammals, a direct connection between the nasal cavity and the oral cavity is a common finding. The structure is named the nasopalatine duct (NPD). It has been hypothesized to be functional in terms of transportation of odorants from the oral cavity to the nasal cavity. In humans, the NPD exists during embryological development. The connection between the nasopalatine infundibulum and the incisive fossa is typically closed at the time of birth. We present the case of a 24-year-old man who presented with a persistent NPD. By means of a thin, soft tube, it was possible to probe the NPD. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a bony gap between the hard palate and the alveolar process of the maxillary bone with a length of 16 mm and a width of 6 mm. In light of the literature of the past 500 years, this represents a rare finding of a persistent NPD.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)229-232
Seitenumfang4
FachzeitschriftAnnals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology
Jahrgang114
Ausgabenummer3
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - März 2005
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

Scopus 15044347167
PubMed 15825574
researchoutputwizard legacy.publication#9124
ORCID /0000-0001-9713-0183/work/149082188

Schlagworte

Schlagwörter

  • Epithelium, Nasal cyst, Nose, Olfaction, Smell, Vomeronasal organ