The turbinates are long, bony structures that compose four air passages in each nostril’s airway. When you inhale through the nose, the turbinates filter, heat, and moisten the air. The mucosal lining that covers the turbinates also traps and filters particles in the air, making them an important component of the immune system. When the turbinates are enlarged, they can contribute to breathing challenges. As such, enlarged turbinates are often addressed during a septoplasty.