[Piriform aperture as a cause of nasal obstruction. Part I. Anthropometric characteristics in different populations (systematic review).]

The piriform aperture (PA) is anatomically an opening in the central part of the facial skull. To date, the piriform aperture, as an element of the static component of the internal nasal valve (INV) and as a possible cause of its dysfunction, has not received proper surgical attention. If PA is considered as a possible cause of nasal obstruction, then the main parameter is its width, which has a direct effect on the volume of the INV area. This parameter is the focus of the presented work. Despite the absence of generally accepted normative indicators for PA, we currently know the shape and size of the piriform aperture in different ethnic groups of the population, described in the article. As a result of the analysis of the presented research results, it was revealed that the width of the PA is influenced by the gender, age and ethnicity of the individual. The anthropometric data of the piriform aperture require further study, since they are of important reference value not only in the theory of medical research, but also in practical otorhinolaryngology, maxillofacial and plastic surgery, pulmonology.