Essential Anatomy and Evaluation for Functional Rhinoplasty.

The nose, a prominent facial feature in defining facial beauty, is responsible for the fundamental physiologic functions of heating, humidifying, and filtering inspired air. When the normal balance of laminar and turbulent airflow become disturbed due to anatomic abnormalities, nasal obstruction may result. To successfully restore these basic physiologic functions, the surgeon must have a detailed understanding of the nasal anatomy and be able to successfully identify the specific cause of the nasal obstruction. This article discusses the fundamental surgical anatomy and the various diagnostic techniques and instruments at the surgeon's disposal.