Synonyms
Olfactory bulb, olfactory organ, tip of nose, nostrils, nasal septum, nasal bridge, nosebleed
Definition
The nose is one of the individual characteristics of each person. Depending on its shape, the nose can be long or snub-nosed, narrow or wide, dainty or hooked. However, all noses possess nostrils, nose-wings and a nose-septum, that divides the nose-cave into two halves.
From the outside, one distinguishes the root of the nose (nasal pyramid, Radix nasi), the bridge of the nose (Dorsum nasi), the tip of the nose (Apex nasi) and the nostrils (Alae nasi).
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The nose consists of a bony and a cartilaginous part. The hard, bony part is called the nasal root or nasal pyramid and is a kind of foundation for the cartilaginous part of the nose sitting on it.
It consists of an extension of the frontal bone (Pars nasalis ossis frontalis) at the top, extensions of the upper jaw bone (Processus frontalis maxillae) at the sides and the nasal bone (Os nasale) in the middle. The cartilaginous part of the nose is movable and consists of triangular cartilage (Cartilago triangularis, Cartilago nasi lateralis) on both sides. It sits on the bony root of the nose and connects to other cartilaginous parts of the nose.
Together with the tip cartilage (Cartilago alaris major), which consists of the nasal bridge (columelle, crus mediale) and the nostrils (crus lateralale), the shape of the nostrils is determined. In addition, the triangular cartilage is connected to the nasal septum (septum nasi) located in the middle of the nose. The cartilaginous nasal septum (Cartilago septi nasi) determines the height of the tip of the nose and can lead to a crooked nose, for example.
However, the bony part of the nose, the nasal bone (os nasale), is mainly involved in the actual shape of the nose. Together with the cartilaginous parts, a deformity of the nasal bone can make up a hump nose or a saddle nose. From the outside, the nose is covered with skin.
As in other parts of the body, the skin has sebaceous glands and hair, which is why pubescent humans often have unsightly blackheads and acne, especially in the area of the nose. Although all noses are very different from the outside, we always find the same structure inside the nose. The inner part of the nose is larger than one might assume when looking at the nose from the outside.
This is where the nasal cavity is located, which is divided into two halves by the nasal septum (septum nasi). The nasal septum consists of cartilage (lamina quadrangularis, cartilago septi nasi) in the front part and non-deformable bone (lamina perpendicularis) in the rear part. The bony part consists in turn of extensions of other facial skull bones.
These are called the ethmoid bone (Os, because it is actually perforated by the olfactory nerves at a point like a sieve, and the ploughshare bone (Vomer). The main nasal cavity begins at the front with the nasal valve and ends with two adjacent openings, the choanas or “inner nostrils”, in the throat. Through these openings the inhaled air flows into the throat.
Like the outer nose, the main nasal cavity has boundaries on all sides. The roof is formed by the nasal bone (Os nasale), a part of the ethmoid bone (Lamina cribrosa) and the sphenoid bone. The floor borders on our palate.
When we move our tongue from behind near the uvula towards the front towards the incisors, we notice a transition to a hard structure. We call this hard palate (Palatum durum), which forms the lower boundary of the main nasal cavity to our oral cavity. Laterally, there are bony structures consisting of parts of the facial skull.
Parts of the upper jaw (maxilla), the lacrimal bone (Os lacrimale), the palatal bone (Pallatum) and the sphenoid bone (Os sphenoidale) are involved in this limitation. Here are the so-called nasal conchae, which actually look like such when viewed from the side. The nasal conchae serve to enlarge the surface of the nasal mucosa and limit the nasal passages.
On each side there are three nasal conches, an upper (concha nasi superior), a middle (concha nasi media) and a lower nasal concha (concha nasi inferior). Between them are the nasal passages (Meatus nasi superior, medius, inferior), through which the cold inhalation air can flow. Important for the physician is the fact that the lower nasal concha consists of an independent bone, while the overlying middle and upper nasal concha consist of extensions of the ethmoid bone.
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