A lot happens under the surface of the nose. The bone and cartilage under the skin give the nose most of its size and shape. Other structures inside and behind the nose help you breathe. Learning the anatomy of the nose can help you better understand how the nose works.
Bone.
This supports the bridge of the nose. The upper cartilage supports the side of the nose. The lower cartilage adds support, width, and height. It helps shape the nostrils and the tip of the nose.
Skin.
This also helps shape the nose.
Nasal cavity.
This is a hollow space behind the nose that air flows through.
Septum.
This is a thin wall made of cartilage and bone. It divides the inside of the nose into 2 parts.
Mucous membrane.
This is thin tissue that lines the nose, sinuses, and throat. It warms and moistens the air you breathe in. It also makes the sticky mucus that helps clean the air of dust and other small particles.
Turbinates.
These are curved, bony ridges on each side of the nose. They are lined with mucous membrane. They warm and moisten the air you breathe in.
Sinuses.
These are hollow, air-filled chambers in the bone around your nose. Mucus from the sinuses drains into the nasal cavity.
Thehuman nosehas several physiologic functions. As
the air is inspired through the nose it is humidified and warmed by passing
over the moist and warm nasal mucosa. The nose is an energy-conscious organ in
that expired air is cooled and some of the moisture is recaptured. The
functions of warming and humidification require a tremendous blood flow to the
nasal mucosa and also place substantial stress on the nasal mucosa. The nose
has what is known as a nasal cycle.
To allow the mucosa time to rest from these
functions, the nose has periods in which one side of the nose becomes swollen,
which we call congestion. During the same period the other side of the nose
remains patent or decongested. The normal nasal cycle lasts from three to six
hours, and during this time first one side of the human nose will be congested
and the other side will be patent; then the second side becomes congested as
the first side becomes patent. It is also normal for the human nose to be
congested when an individual lies down.
Particularly if you lie on your side
you may notice that the downside of your nose becomes congested. Olfaction is
the medical word for smell. Smell is one of the six human senses and for some
individuals is a very important sense; for others it seems to be less
important. The olfactory centers, as described under the anatomy section,
reside very high along the roof of the nose. In order for these centers to be
stimulated, the odors have to be inspired into the human nose and carried up to
the roof of the human nose. If the odor does not reach the roof of the nose due
to a variety of conditions, the odor will not be perceived. The nose is capable
of distinguishing a large number of different odors. Our understanding of
precisely how this occurs is limited, but increasing.
Taste is a sense very different from olfaction. It is
another of the human senses and is perceived primarily on the tongue. There are
four recognized tastes and these are sweet, salty, sour, and bitter. They
occupy geographically separate areas on the tongue and are perceived in cells
clustered together in taste buds. The sense of smell plays a major role in the
flavor of foods and it is common for individuals who lose their sense of smell
to report that food loses its taste. This is of course incorrect; the food has
only lost its aroma, and taste (sweet, salty, sour, bitter) remains intact.
The nose is the part of the respiratory tract that sits front and center on your face. You use it to breathe air in and to stop and smell the roses. The nose’s exterior anatomy includes the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, nerves, blood supply, and lymphatics.
The external part of the nose includes the root (between the eyes), the dorsum that runs down the middle, and the apex at the tip of the nose. Two openings called nostrils (nares) allow air in. They’re divided by the nasal septum (dividing wall of cartilage and bone), and the parts that surround the nostrils are called the alae (ala singular).
The nose has a bony part that’s formed by the bony nasal septum, the nasal bones, and parts of the maxillae, palatine, and frontal bones. The cartilaginous part of the nose is formed by two lateral cartilages, two alar cartilages, and a septal cartilage.
The nasal cavity
The nares serve as the entryway to the nasal cavities, which open posteriorly into the nasopharynx via the choanae. The walls of the nasal cavity include the following features:
Roof: The roof is divided into three parts: frontonasal, ethmoidal, and sphenoidal. Each part corresponds to the underlying bone of the same name.
Floor: The floor consists of the palatine process of the maxilla and the horizontal plate of the palatine bone.
Medial wall: This wall is the nasal septum, which is formed by the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone, the vomer, cartilage, and the nasal crests of the maxillary and palatine bones.
Lateral wall: This wall is hallmarked by three nasal conchae (superior, middle, and inferior) that project inferiorly from the wall. They divide the nasal cavity into four passages that have openings to the paranasal sinuses:
The sphenoethmoid recess lies posterior to the superior concha and has the opening for the sphenoidal sinus.
The superior nasal meatus lies between the superior and middle conchae and has openings to the posterior ethmoidal sinuses.
The middle nasal meatus is longer and deeper than the superior nasal meatus. The frontal sinus communicates with the middle nasal meatus via the infundibulum, a passageway that opens into the semilunar hiatus (groove in the ethmoid bone). The maxillary sinus opens into the semilunar hiatus. An ethmoidal bulla (a round swelling formed by the middle ethmoidal cells, or air-filled cavities) is formed just above the semilunar hiatus. The middle and anterior ethmoidal sinuses drain into the middle nasal meatus.
The inferior nasal meatus is found below the inferior nasal concha. The nasolacrimal duct opens into this meatus.
The nasal cavity is lined with nasal mucosa, except for the nasal vestibule, which is lined with skin. The mucosa over the superior one-third of the nasal cavity is the olfactory area. Air is drawn past the specialized mucosal cells called the olfactory epithelium as air is sniffed though the nose. The olfactory epithelium contains receptors of olfactory neurons that detect smells. Olfactory neurons (from CN I) join together to form nerve bundles that run up through the cribiform plate of the ethmoid bone to the olfactory bulb. The olfactory tract transmits the sensory information about smell from
The paranasal sinuses
The paranasal sinuses are air-filled cavities in the frontal, ethmoid, maxilla, and sphenoid bones. They’re lined with a mucosal membrane and have small openings into the nasal cavity:
Maxillary sinus: This sinus is located in the body of the maxilla behind the cheek just above the roots of the premolar and molar teeth. It’s shaped like a pyramid. It opens into the nasal cavity via the semilunar hiatus.
Frontal sinuses: Found within the frontal bone, each of these sinuses is triangular in shape and runs above the medial end of the eyebrow and backward to the orbit. They open into the nasal cavity via the semilunar hiatus.
Sphenoid sinuses: These sinuses are found in the sphenoid bone. Each opens into the sphenoethmoid recess.
Ethmoid sinuses: The anterior, middle, and posterior ethmoid sinuses are located in the ethmoid bone between the nose and the eye. The anterior sinus opens into the nasal cavity by the infundibulum, the middle sinus opens into the ethmoidal bulla, and the posterior sinus opens into the superior meatus.
Nerves, blood vessels, and lymphatics of the nose
Nerve supply to the external nose is provided by the infratrochlear and external nasal branches of the ophthalmic nerve and the infraorbital branch of the maxillary nerve, both of which are part of the trigeminal nerve (CN V). The olfactory nerves (CN I) pass through the cribiform plate of the ethmoid bone. General sensory innervation of the nasal cavity and the paranasal sinuses is from the ophthalmic nerve (CN V1) and maxillary nerve (CN V2).
Blood is supplied to the external part of the nose by branches of the ophthalmic and maxillary arteries. The skin of the ala and septum are supplied by the facial artery. Blood is brought to the walls of the nasal cavity and sinuses by branches of the maxillary artery. The most important is the sphenopalatine artery, which anastomoses with a branch of the superior labial artery. Venous blood is returned from the nasal cavity by veins that accompany the arteries.
Lymph from the nasal cavity drains into the submandibular lymph nodes and vessels that drain into the upper deep cervical lymph nodes. The Anatomy of the Nose Video :
The human blockhead act is a trick that relies on the structure of the human skull. The skull is a collection of 22 bones, most of which are fused together at joints called sutures. These fused bones form a covering that protects your brain. Although much of the skull looks like one solid piece, it's also full of holes and spaces. These include the sinuses, the eye sockets and the foramen magnum, where the brain stem exits the skull.
The human nasal cavity
The physical features in a person's face are the result of the way skin, fat and muscle tissue lie over this bony structure. An exception is the human nose. The external portion of the nose is mostly cartilage and connective tissue covered with skin. Hair and mucous line the nose and protect the interior nasal passageways from dust, debris and other foreign substances.
The external portion of the nose is a little deceptive. Two nostrils appear to lead almost straight up into the nasal passageway. In reality, the nasal cavity, which connects the nose to the throat, leads almost straight back. Its ceiling is approximately even with the top of the nose, just below the eyes. Its floor tends to be almost level with the alar cartilage, which forms the openings for the nostrils.
The nasal cavity isn't entirely smooth and straight. Its walls are made up of several grooves known as conchae. These grooves hold on to moisture when you exhale through your nose, which helps keep your nasal passages from drying out. Mucous membranes line all of these surfaces, providing lubrication and protection.
The human nose is the organ of smell located in the middle of the face. The internal part of the nose lies above the roof of the mouth. The human nose consists of:
external meatus-triangular-shaped projection in the center of the face.
external nostrils-two chambers divided by the septum.
septum-made up primarily of cartilage and bone and covered by mucous membranes. The cartilage also gives shape and support to the outer part of the nose.
nasal passages-passages that are lined with mucous membranes and tiny hairs (cilia) that help to filter the air.
sinuses-four pairs of air-filled cavities, also lined with mucous membranes.
What are sinuses?
The sinuses are cavities, or air-filled pockets, near the nasal passage. As in the nasal passage, the sinuses are lined with mucous membranes. There are four different types of sinuses:
ethmoid sinus-located inside the face, around the area of the bridge of the nose. This sinus is present at birth, and continues to grow.
maxillary sinus-located inside the face, around the area of the cheeks. This sinus is also present at birth, and continues to grow.
frontal sinus-located inside the face, in the area of the forehead. This sinus does not develop until around 7 years of age.
sphenoid sinus-located deep in the face, behind the nose. This sinus does not develop until adolescence.
What is the throat?
The throat is a ring-like muscular tube that acts as the passageway for air, food, and liquid. The throat also helps in forming speech. The throat consists of:
larynx-also known as the voice box, the larynx is a cylindrical grouping of cartilage, muscles, and soft tissue which contains the vocal cords. The vocal cords are the upper opening into the windpipe (trachea), the passageway to the lungs.
epiglottis-a flap of soft tissue located just above the vocal cords. The epiglottis folds down over the vocal cords to prevent food and irritants from entering the lungs.
tonsils and adenoids-made up of lymph tissue and are located at the back and the sides of the mouth. They protect against infection, but generally have little purpose beyond childhood.
One disored that your nose may have is a deviated septum- this is where the bone that splits your nostrils is skew; either because it grew that way or you broke your nose. This can create a blockage in your nose, making it difficult to breath.
Another disored is small nostrils; this also makes it difficult to breathe and can be a cause of snoring. It is also a sign of cancer so see you docter straight away before its to late.
Diagram of the human Nose.
What diseases or disorders can the nose have? A Video :
