NO SURGEON can do a considerable number of rhinoplastic operations without becoming aware, as in other branches of surgery, that a knowledge of physiology is essential. Certainly it is just as important that one acquaint oneself with the dynamics of nasal respiration as it is that one know the anatomy of the region and the pathological conditions that may be encountered there.
Our attempt to correlate nasal physiology with rhinoplastic surgery has brought us by devious byways to a point where today a clearer understanding of the problem is in the making. It has given us new and valuable concepts which, although far from satisfactory, more nearly meet our clinical needs. While we realize that planned experiments are essential to the solution of any problem, we also know that, nevertheless, clinical experience is a necessary preliminary to scientific investigation. The elaboration of our concepts forms the basis of this paper,