The 7 most important parts of the nose, and their characteristics.

Review of the main parts of the nose, explaining its functions and anatomical characteristics.

The nose is one of the most important organs of our body since, through it, we can breathe and smell. It is the main entrance of air to the respiratory system and is located more or less in the middle of our face, protruding above the mouth.

Thanks to the nose and the respiratory system, we bring into our body the oxygen we need so much so that the cells can carry out their metabolic processes and continue to live.

We will now take a look at the most important parts of the nose. we will see the most important parts of the noseWe will now see the most important parts of the nose, what their functions are and their exact location both in the external and internal part of this organ.

What are the parts of the nose?

The nose is a very important structure for our organism since it represents the main entrance of air. it represents the main entrance of air. This air, which contains oxygen, will eventually go to the lungs where it will be introduced into the Blood and travel to all the cells of the body, allowing cellular respiration and associated metabolic processes to take place.

Although the mouth can also introduce air into the organism, the nose is the safest entrance, since it has mechanisms to protect us from pathogens. has mechanisms to protect us from airborne pathogens..

When we introduce air into our body we are inhaling. The air flows from around us into the nostrils and then travels into the nasal cavity. It then passes through the back of our throat, down the trachea and finally reaches the lungs. When we exhale, i.e., expel air, we basically do the same process but in reverse, starting in the lungs and exiting through the nostrils.

But the nose is not only involved in the respiratory function, it is also the site of a fundamental sense for detecting whether a food is edible or not: the sense of smell. The cells in charge of transforming olfactory stimuli into nerve impulses are in direct communication with the central nervous system, allowing for a rapid and efficient response.The cells in charge of transforming olfactory stimuli into nerve impulses are in direct communication with the central nervous system, allowing a quick and efficient response to a pleasant stimulus, such as the smell of freshly baked bread, or an unpleasant stimulus, such as the smell of a corpse.

We will now go into detail about the various parts that make up the nose, both in its external and internal sections, as well as their functions and how they are connected to the respiratory system and the sensory system.

External parts

The parts of the nose that we can see and that protrude from the protrude from the face make up the external nasal structure.. Basically, the external part is made up of a framework of bone and cartilage covered by very thin muscles which, in turn, are lined with a thin layer of skin.

Root and sulcus

Anatomically speaking, the nose begins at the sulcus, which is the region above the upper lip, and ends at the root, which is the root of the nose.and ends at the root, which is the part between the eyebrows, right at the top of the face.

2. Bridge and dorsum

The pyramidal shape of the human nose is due to two structures, both located between the root and the most pointed portion of this structure: the bridge and the dorsum. The main function of these two structures is to protect the inner part of the nose.

The bridge is a structure that main characteristic of the bridge is to be the hard part of the nose.. It is made up of small bones that give it rigidity, although it must be said that they are quite fragile and, in case of trauma or some kind of disease, they can be deformed and damaged, making breathing difficult.

The dorsum, also known as the nasal pyramid, is the cartilaginous part of the the cartilaginous part of the external nose.. It is a fairly firm structure but, unlike the bridge, it has a greater degree of flexibility. In its part closest to the lip, with a rounded and partially pointed shape, we find the nasal lobe.

3. Nasal fins or wings

At the tip of the nose we can find some fragments of tissue connected to the rest of the face. These structures are the nasal fins or wings which, depending on their thickness, determine the size of the nose, depending on their thickness, determine the opening of the nostrils..

4. Nares

The nostrils communicate with the outside through the nares, which are the external openings of the nose, i.e., the nostrils. How open they are depends very much on the thickness of the nasal wings. The nostrils, if they are too closed, can be a serious respiratory problem requiring corrective surgery..

Internal parts

The nose is not only the two nostrils and the pyramidal structure that we can see in the middle of the face. It also has deep parts that connect to the trachea and the brain.It also has deep parts that connect with the trachea and the brain, allowing air to reach the lungs and send nervous information to the olfactory centers of the brain.

1. Nostrils

If the nares are the gateway to the nose, the nostrils are the room. It is the deep part of the nostrils, where the air enters with all its particles in suspension..

2. Nasal septum

The two nostrils are separated from each other by a structure called the nasal septum. In its deepest part, close to the brain, it is formed by very thin bones, while in the more superficial part, close to the tip of the nose, it is formed by cartilage. the more superficial part, near the tip of the nose, is made up of cartilage.. When this structure is deformed and deviated, it can make one nasal cavity larger than the other, causing breathing problems.

3. Nasal cavity

The nasal cavity is a space that connects the nose to the back of the throat. It is one of the one of the first places in the respiratory system through which the air we breathe flows to begin its journey It is one of the first places in the respiratory system through which the air we breathe flows to begin its journey to the lungs, transported through the trachea (windpipe). Its shape is more or less cylindrical, divided in half by the nasal septum and surrounded by the paranasal sinuses.

4. Paranasal sinuses

Surrounding the nasal cavity are structures in the form of air-filled pockets called paranasal sinuses, near the nostrils. Like the nostrils, the sinuses are lined by mucous membranes. Four types can be distinguished.

On the one hand, there are the ethmoid sinuses.. They are located inside the face, around the area of the bridge of the nose. At birth they are developed and continue to grow.

The maxillary sinuses are located inside the face, around the area of the cheeks.They are located inside the face, around the cheek area. They are also developed at birth and grow later.

Third are the frontal sinuses. the frontal sinuses, which are located inside the face, around the forehead area.around the forehead area. They do not begin to develop until 7 years of age.

Finally, the sphenoid sinuses are located deep in the face, just behind the nose.just behind the nose. They do not develop until adolescence.

There has been much debate as to whether the paranasal sinuses can be considered vestigial organs, since they have been associated with an increased likelihood of infectious diseases. However, it has been argued on several occasions that they may have multiple functions that are fundamental to our health:

• Cushioning facial trauma
• Moisturizing and warming the air we breathe in.
• Thermal insulation
• Increasing voice resonance
• Immune defense against certain diseases
• Decrease the relative weight of the skull.

5. Mucous membrane

All the internal structures of the nose are lined by a tissue called mucous membrane or respiratory mucosa. Its main function is to maintain a humid environment inside the nose, making the inhaled air moist and warm.. This is essential, since inhaling the cold, dry air could seriously damage the inner surface of the lungs.

In addition, the mucus produces, as its name suggests, mucus. Although visually mucus is not very pleasant, it fulfills a very important function for our health, since it is the main protective barrier of our respiratory system against pathogens, dust and other particles in suspension, which could infect us and cause diseases. We humans are constantly producing mucus are constantly producing mucus and, when we are healthy, we produce an average of one liter per day..

6. Cilia

Inside the nose we can find thousands of microscopic hairs called cilia.. Their main function is to prevent the mucus produced by the respiratory mucosa, which has trapped dust and pathogens, from ending up in the lungs or other structures of the respiratory system and the skull. Thanks to these little hairs the mucus comes out, making us sneeze or have to cough.

7. Olfactory receptors

In addition to being the entrance of air, thus initiating breathing, the nose is also the organ in which the sense of smell is located. Although it is not very developed in the human species, the sense of smell allows us to identify whether a food is in good or bad condition, without having to taste it and find out in a way that puts our health at risk.

When a food smells good, our brain interprets it as a very nutritious and energetic food.It activates our appetite and pressures us to eat it. On the other hand, when a food smells bad, it interprets it as if it could be toxic, rotten or unfit for human consumption, provoking the disgust response and making sure that we are not attracted to it.

We owe our sense of smell to having millions of cells inside us, which are the olfactory receptors. These cells are chemoreceptors, i.e. cells specialized in the identification of chemical substances. and are part of a piece of tissue called the olfactory epithelium, which is located in the upper part of the nasal cavity. These cells connect directly with the brain, making the body's response to a beneficial or harmful food very rapid.

Bibliographical references:

• Fox, S. I. (2002). Human physiology. McGraw-Hill.
• Escajadillo, J. R. (2009). Ear, nose, throat and head and neck surgery. Mexico: El Manual Moderno.