A Theoretical Biophysical Model of the Nasal Cycle: Capacitance Vessel Dynamics and the Autonomic Switch

AbstractThis preprint presents a theoretical biophysical framework for understanding the nasal cycle-the physiological process of alternating nasal congestion. By theoretically modeling the nasal passages as a system of capacitance vessels and erectile tissue, we explore how vasodilation, rather than mucus production, governs airway resistance. This theoretical-analytical model proposes that lateral recumbency (lying on one’s side) utilizes hydrostatic pressure and autonomic triggers to influence vessel engorgement, providing a theoretical mechanism for clearing a blocked airway.