Vestibule Region of the Nasal Cavity
The vestibule is the portion of the nasal cavity that lies directly posterior to the external nares (or nostrils).
Because it is located near the body surface, the vestibule region is frequently exposed to destructive agents. To compensate, it is lined by the same stratified squamous epithelium that makes up the skin. The multiple layers of cells in this tissue create a barrier that helps protect the vestibule from damage.
Embedded in the epithelial lining are large nose hairs, called vibrissae. The mucus that lines the vibrissae entraps large airborne particles and prevents them from passing deeper into the respiratory passageways.
