The nasal cavities have a rich vascular supply for altering the humidity and temperature of respired air. In fact, the submucosa of the respiratory region, particularly that related to the conchae and septum, is often described as “erectile” or “cavernous” because the tissue enlarges or shrinks depending on the amount of blood flowing into the system.
Arteries that supply the nasal cavity include vessels that originate from both the internal and external carotid arteries (Fig. 8.243):