Final answer:
The lateral walls of the nasal cavity house the nasal conchae and meatuses, which are involved in air conditioning, while the air-containing paranasal sinuses, including the frontal and maxillary sinuses, help to warm, humidify air, and lighten the skull's weight.
Step-by-step explanation:
Along the lateral walls of the nasal cavity, you will find structures called nasal conchae, which are curved bony plates that project outwards. These consist of the superior and middle nasal conchae, which are parts of the ethmoid bone, and the independent inferior nasal conchae. These conchae serve to increase the surface area within the nasal cavity, aiding in warming and humidifying the air we breathe.
Beneath these conchae are the nasal meatuses (superior, middle, and inferior), which are passages through which air flows. Altogether, the conchae and meatuses work efficiently to ensure air is suitably conditioned before reaching the lungs.
Paranasal sinuses are also present and named for their associated bones: the frontal sinus, maxillary sinus, sphenoidal sinus, and ethmoidal sinus. These sinuses are air-containing spaces that produce mucus, warm and humidify incoming air, and help to lighten the weight of the skull. They are lined with mucosa and are an integral part of the upper airway system.