In anatomy, a turbinate is a bony projection which protrudes into the breathing passage of the nose. These increase the surface area of the inside of the nose helping improve the sense of smell.

The nasal cavity is convoluted into cavities of olfactory epithelium called turbinates I-IV. Here experiments have shown expression of specific odorant receptor genes by subsets of olfactory receptor neurons. Too much reduction of the inferior or middle turbinate can cause Empty nose syndrome.

References

• Reduction/Removal of the Inferior Turbinate, from the Sinus Info Center.
• Empty nose syndrome.

http://www.emptynosesyndrome.org/whatisens.html

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