Peek at the Anatomy of the Human Nose

The nose is one of the five senses that humans have. Thanks to this organ, humans can recognize various kinds of aromas, such as fragrant or foul odors. Knowing the anatomy of the human nose will help you to understand how the nose works, along with how to maintain nasal health. Nasal anatomy is composed of parts with mutually supporting functions, thus creating a good mechanism of action. If one of them is disturbed, then the function of the nose as the olfactory organ can be disrupted. As a layman, maybe you only know the nose from the outside appearance only. However, do you know what is in it?

Nose Anatomy Arrangement

To find out the anatomy of the nose, let us examine the anatomical structure of the human nose.

• Two small holes

From the outside you will only see two small holes that deliver you to the nasal cavity. These two holes act as the exit and entry of air when breathing.

• Fine hairs

From the outside appearance you will also see fine hairs attached to the nasal cavity. These feathers function to filter impurities that enter the nasal cavity. At certain moments, mucus and dirt can clot between the fine hairs of the nose.

• Cilia

Besides nose hairs, there are also cilia. Cilia are small networks that function like brooms. Like nasal hair, the cilia catch dirt and push it so it does not go down into the deeper respiratory tract. Cilia feathers are very sensitive to harmful substances, such as cigarette smoke. Ciliary function will be disrupted if exposed to these substances repeatedly. Damaged cilia can refer to health problems, such as bronchitis.

• Dividing wall

Between the two holes and in the middle of the nasal cavity is a dividing wall, known as the septum. This wall is made of bone and cartilage (soft bone). The upper dividing wall adjacent to the eye is filled with bone. Then the rest, in the middle and bottom, is filled with cartilage. That is the reason the middle and lower nose feel supple when pressed.

• Nose wall

The lateral nasal wall is divided into two, namely the medial or middle wall and the lateral or side wall. The medial wall is called the nasal bulkhead or dividing wall. The lateral wall divides the nasal cavity into four sections that open into the sinuses.

• Sine

Around the nose there are four sinuses, namely the maxillary sinus as the largest sinus in the cheekbone, the frontal sinus in the middle of the forehead, the ethmoid sinus in the nasal bridge between the two eyes, and the sphenoid sinus in the spine of the nasal cavity. These four sinuses are also covered by a mucosa that produces a thin layer of mucus. Until now, the function of sinuses is unclear. Some say the sinuses can help moisturize the air we breathe, then some say that the sinuses can perfect the sound. When mucus, dirt, and germs are trapped in the sinuses, inflammation can occur, known as sinusitis.

How the nose works

The nose is known as the sense of smell. One of its functions is to know foul-smelling food that is no longer suitable for consumption and the smell of food that is still suitable for consumption. So how does the nose work so that it makes us aware of various kinds of odors? The air we breathe will first enter the nasal cavity. At the top of the nasal cavity is the olfactory or olfactory epithelium. Olfactory plays an important role in terms of smell because it contains receptors that can detect scents. There are about 10 million small receptors in the olfactory layer. After successfully recognizing the odor, the receptor sends a signal to the olfactory nerve and then sends it to the olfactory bulb. Then the signals are sent to the brain to be interpreted as smells as you breathe when you breathe. In addition, the nose also has another important role, namely as a doorway for the respiratory tract. At first the air we breathe in through the nostril into the nasal cavity. Then the air will go through the filtering process in the nasal cavity. Dust or particles that should not enter the lungs will remain in the nasal cavity. Clean air will continue its journey to the trachea or air pipe, then end up in the lungs. When we exhale, the air from the lungs will come out the same way.

How to Maintain Nose Health

The nose and sinuses are the main organs in maintaining human breathing health. Maintaining healthy nose and breathing, can be done by maintaining sinus health. There are several ways to maintain sinus health in order to maintain health, namely:

• Close your mouth when sneezing or coughing. Instead, use a mask when in a public place. The aim is to avoid transmission of viruses and bacteria. Because, viruses and bacteria are the main cause of respiratory infections.
• Avoid the habit of touching the face with your hands. Dirty hands can be a means of spreading viruses and bacteria to the nose.
• Wash your hands often with soap so that viruses and bacteria do not have a long time to live on your hands and spread everywhere.
• Avoid cigarette smoke, vehicle smoke, smoke from burning rubbish, and dust. Because, dirty air containing chemicals can cause problems in the sinuses and certainly breathing.
• Avoid allergy triggers (allergens), especially if you have a history of allergies. For example dust, pet dander, and fungus. Also clean the air conditioner regularly so it does not become a den of viruses and bacteria.

In addition to understanding nasal anatomy, it is also important to always try to maintain nasal health. If interference with the nose or breathing occurs, consult a doctor immediately.