The nose is the most protruding part of the human face. The two openings in the it are nostrils, which are the first organ of the respiratory system. It is also the primary organ of smell. The nasal septum separates the nostrils. The nasal bones and nasal cartilage decide the shape of the nose. It is commonly found that the male nose is larger than that of a female.
Function of the Nose
The main function of the it is respiration. The nasal mucosa lining the nasal cavity and the paranasal sinuses carry out the conditioning of the inhaled air by moistening it and warming it. The nasal hair in the nostrils filters the air by preventing large particles from entering the lungs. Particles that irritate the mucosal lining are expelled from the nose by a reflex action of the it known as sneezing.
Other than being a part of the respiratory system that inhales oxygen and exhales carbon dioxide, it also carries out the major function of smelling. The human nose can smell over a trillion scents. The roof of the nasal cavity is olfactory cleft which has many nerve endings and carry the smell sensations to the brain. It also contributes to other important functions like hearing, tasting, and speech.
The nose is also the first line of defense for the body against sickness. It is lined by fine hair like projections called cilia. The sinuses are lined with mucus making cells to prevent it from drying out. Together the cilia and the mucus collect dust, bacteria and other unwanted particles before they enter the rest of the body.
Diseases
The nose is a complex organ and the most common medical conditions that affect it are nasal allergies, chronic sinus infections, nasal obstruction and nose bleeds. Mostly the cause is inflammation of sinuses due to viruses, allergies and certain diseases. Difficulty in breathing and loss of sense of smell are also complaints that people have. The typical causes for loss of sense of smell are viral infections like cold, sinus infections, head trauma and in rare cases, tumors.
The nasal septum, which is the flat plate of cartilage on the center nose can be damaged and pushed to the left or right. This condition is known as deviated nasal septum. A deviated septum can also cause difficulty in breathing because one or both of the nasal passages are smaller than they should be. It may need to be corrected by surgery.
Nose bleeds are extremely common and about 60 percent of the people experience nose bleeds.
Disclaimer: The information in no way constitutes, or should be construed as medical advice. Nor is the above article an endorsement of any research findings discussed in the article an endorsement for any of the source publications.
References:
- Human Nose Wikipedia
- Human Body Maps
- Britannica Nose
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