DIAGRAM OF THE HUMAN NOSE

The Human Nose

2010-02-09T17:50:00.000-08:00

The Human Nose

Diagram of the Human Nose
The external human nose, composed of bone and cartilage, is the most prominent feature of the face in humans. The internal human nose is a hollow structure above the roof of the mouth, divided by the septum into two nasal cavities that extend from the nostrils to the pharynx. The mucous membrane that lines the nasal cavities is covered with fine hairs known as cilia that help to filter dust and impurities from the air before it reaches the lungs; the air is also moistened as it passes over the sticky nasal membrane. In the human nose, there are three horizontal folds on the walls of the nasal cavities, called the conchae: other mammals may have more conchae. The uppermost concha is densely supplied with capillaries that warm the air passing over them to near body temperature. High in the nasal cavity is a small tract of mucous membrane containing the nerve cell endings of the olfactory nerve, which impart the sense of smell. Therefore, inflammation of the nasal mucous membranes, which commonly accompanies colds and other infections, not only obstructs breathing but also impairs the sense of smell.
Diagram of the human nose...

Anatomy and Physiology of the Nose and Throat

2010-02-09T17:47:00.000-08:00

Diagram of the Human Nose

Anatomy and Physiology of the Nose and Throat

What is the human nose?

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.

Diagram of the Human Nose

TWIN PATHWAYS INTO THE BRAIN

2009-06-05T05:37:00.000-07:00

TWIN PATHWAYS INTO THE BRAIN

Diagram of the Human Nose
The centimeter-long human vomeronasal organ (VNO), shown sliced in two in the photograph below acts as a sensor for airborne human pheromones-odorless molecules that influence sexual desire and other feelings. The molecules set off signals that are transmitted through the VNO nerves (red) directly to the hypothalamus. Smell messages travel through the parallel olfactory system (blue) to a different part of the brain...(diagram of the human nose)
Diagram-of-human-nose.

DIAGRAM OF THE HUMAN NOSE-3

2009-06-05T05:36:00.000-07:00

DIAGRAM OF THE HUMAN NOSE-3

Diagram of The Human Nose

2009-06-05T05:34:00.000-07:00

Diagram of The Human Nose-2
anatomy-and-human-blockhead.

Diagram of The Human Nose

2009-06-05T05:30:00.000-07:00

Diagram of The Human Nose

Diagram of the Human Nose....anatomy-and-human-blockhead.

DIAGRAM OF THE HUMAN NOSE

2009-06-05T05:13:00.000-07:00

DIAGRAM OF THE HUMAN NOSE...

The upper air passages refer to the respiratory organs in the head of the human being. They include the nose and throat (pharynx).

During breathing in, the air enters initially through the nose, where it is pre-cleaned by a hair filter.

A bifurcated network of blood vessels in the nasal mucous membrane warms the air. Mucous droplets from the nasal mucous membrane moisten it as well. This adapts the air to the conditions prevailing inside the lungs (pulmo). The paranasal sinuses (sinus paranasales), which are connected to the nose, are also involved in this process.

Through the nose, the air comes to the throat, which consists of various sections, with the esophagus and windpipe crossing in the medial throat (mesopharynx). The inhaled air passes through the throat to the larynx (larynx) to the lower air passages.

In comparison to the sense of taste, the sense of smell can distinguish much more. A qualitative distribution as with the sense of taste (bitter, sweet, sour, salty) is not so simple. Instead, classes of scent are used to express the sensation (pungent, sweaty, rotten, etc.).

The sensory receptors of the olfactory organ (organum olfactus) are located at the start of the respiratory tracts and have the size of a dime on the upper nasal wall and the septum.

Through colorization (pigmenting) the olfactory region has a yellow color and is thus highlighted against the red membrane. Whether the pigmentation is involved in smelling is not clear. However, animals without any pigmentation (albinos) do not have a sense of smell.

The tissue in the olfactory region (more than 10 million receptor cells) is about 50 µm higher than the epithelium of the respiratory tracts. The olfactory cells have very fine hairs (cilia) (up to 12 per cell) and are covered with mucus. Nerve processes connect as a bundle of fibers from the olfactory cells to the front section of the olfactory cortex at the basis of the front brain. The olfactory cells are separated from the olfactory cortex by very thin bone, the sieve, through which the nerve fibers pass through small openings. After appropriate processing of the olfactory information, the smell becomes known.

Olfactory cells are chemical receptors, i.e. the stimulus of the olfactory cells is the result of a chemical process on the surface of the hairs. How the molecular reaction occurs, with which hundreds of different smells are distinguished, is unclear. Gaseous substances are easier to smell. A water-soluble property increases the ability to smell because the smell molecules enter the air through evaporation.

Diagram of the Human Nose....

diagram-of-human-nose

Anatomy and the Human Blockhead

2009-06-05T05:11:00.000-07:00

Anatomy and the Human Blockhead

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.

Diagram of the Human Nose