Nasal respiratory function—vasomotor and secretory regulation

In the following, the innervation of the nasal mucosa, other than that involved in olfaction and vomeronasal mechanisms, will be outlined. Then, those anatomical, physiological and pharmacological studies, which have led to present understanding of autonomic regulation of nasal functioning, will be reviewed from a historical perspective. In addition, recent evidence that several vasoactive neuropeptides are also critically involved in the neural control of nasal vasomotor and secretory activity, as well as other important nasal reflexes, will be provided. Finally, the implications of our present knowledge of nasal function for understanding and treating nasal pathophysiology will be discussed.