The nasal turbinates are long, narrow curved bones that project into the nasal cavity and are covered with mucous membrane. The most common pathology of the nasal turbinates is hypertrophy and is usually treated by cutting and cauterizing to reduce the size of the turbinates.

The turbinates are small structures inside the nose that clean and humidify the air passing through the nostrils before it reaches the lungs. They are made up of bony structures surrounded by vascular tissue and an outer mucous membrane, which can become swollen and inflamed due to allergies, irritation or infection, causing nasal congestion and excessive mucus secretion leading to congestion and difficulty breathing. Turbinate cauterization is indicated in cases of hypertrophied turbinates that have increased in size, removing the turbinates and making breathing easier.