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Nose

Anatomically, a nose is a protuberance in vertebrate Vertebrate

Vertebrata is a subphylum [i] of chordate [i]s, specifically, those with backbone [i]s or spinal column [i] ... 

s that houses the nostril Nostril

A nostril is one of the two channels of the nose [i], from the point where they bifurcate to the externa ... 

s, or nares, which admit and expel air for respiration.

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Anatomically, a nose is a protuberance in vertebrate Vertebrate

Vertebrata is a subphylum [i] of chordate [i]s, specifically, those with backbone [i]s or spinal column [i] ... 

s that houses the nostril Nostril

A nostril is one of the two channels of the nose [i], from the point where they bifurcate to the externa... 

s, or nares, which admit and expel air for respiration.

Function


In mammals

In most mammals, it also houses the nosehair Nasal hair

Nasal hair or Nose hair consists of the usually small hair [i]s that are in the nose [i], especial ... 

, which catch airborne particles and prevent them from reaching the lungs. Within and behind the nose is the olfactory mucosa and the sinuses. Behind the nasal cavity, air next passes through the pharynx, shared with the digestive system, and then into the rest of the respiratory system Respiratory system

The respiratory system is an organ system which is used for gas exchange [i]. ... 

. In humans, the nose is located centrally on the face; on most other mammals, it is on the upper tip of the snout.

As an interface between the body and the external world, the nose and associated structures frequently perform additional functions concerned with conditioning entering air and by mostly reclaiming moisture from the air before it is exhaled .

In most mammals, the nose is the primary organ for smelling Olfaction

Olfaction, the sense [i] of odor [i], is the detection of chemicals dissolved in air. ... 

. As the animal sniffs, the air flows through the nose and over structures called turbinates in the nasal cavity. The turbulence caused by this disruption slows the air and directs it toward the olfactory epithelium. At the surface of the olfactory epithelium, odor Odor

An odor or odour is the object of perception of the sense [i] of olfaction [i]. ... 

 molecules carried by the air contact olfactory receptor neurons which transduce the features of the molecule into electrical impulses in the brain Brain

In animal [i]s, the brain, or encephalon , is the control center of the central nervous system [i]. ... 

.

In cetacean Cetacea

The order Cetacea includes whale [i]s, dolphin [i]s and porpoise [i]s.
... 

s, the nose has been reduced to the nostrils, which have migrated to the top of the head, producing a more streamlined body shape and the ability to breathe while mostly submerged. Conversely, the elephant Elephant

Elephantidae is a family [i] of pachyderm [i], and the only remaining family in th... 

's nose has become elaborated into a long, muscular, manipulative organ called the trunk.


Human nose

The visible part of the human nose is the protruding part of the face Face

The face is the front part of the head [i], in humans [i] from the forehead to chin including the ... 

 that bears the nostril Nostril

A nostril is one of the two channels of the nose [i], from the point where they bifurcate to the externa... 

s. The shape of the nose is determined by the ethmoid bone and the nasal septum, which consists mostly of cartilage and which separates the nostrils.

Associated health risks


Because of the special nature of the blood supply to the human nose and surrounding area, it is possible for retrograde infections from the nasal area to spread to the brain. For this reason, the area from the corners of the mouth to the bridge of the nose, including the nose and maxilla, is known to doctors as the danger triangle of the face.

Shapes of the human nose

Human noses can take many different shapes; every individual has in fact an uniquely shaped nose. Several attempts have been made towards a classification of noses. The following examples are from Nasology by Eden Warwick . This 19th century tract associated nose shapes with character traits in a way akin to phrenology Phrenology

Phrenology is a theory which claims to be able to determine character, personality traits, and criminal... 

, in a somewhat ironical Irony

Irony is a literary or rhetorical device in which there is a gap or incongruity between what a speaker o... 

 way, as the booklet was intended to mock the popular but highly controversial subject of phrenology.
  • Class I: The Roman, or Aquiline Eagle

    Eagles are large birds of prey [i] which inhabit mainly the Old World [i], with only two sp ... 

     nose, which is rather convex, but undulating as its name aquiline imports.
  • Class II: The Greek Greece

    Greece

Greece lies at the juncture of Europe [i], Asia [i], and Africa [i]. ... 

 or Straight nose, which is perfectly straight
  • Class III: The African, or Wide-nostrilled nose, wide at the end, thick and broad, gradually widening from below the bridge. The other noses are seen in profile, but this one in full face.
  • Class IV: The Hawk Hawk

    The term hawk refers to birds of prey [i] in any of three senses:

... 

 nose, which is very convex, and preserves its convexity like a bow. It is thin and sharp
  • Class V: The Snub nose
  • Class VI: The Turn-up or Celestial nose, with a continuous concavity from the eyes to the tip

Culture


Some people choose to get rhinoplasty to change the aesthetic appearance of their nose. Nose piercing Nose piercing

Nose piercing is the piercing [i] of the skin [i] or cartilage [i] which forms any part of ... 

s are also common, such as nostril, septum or bridge.

In New Zealand New Zealand

New Zealand is a country in the south-western Pacific Ocean [i] consisting of two large islands and many ... 

, nose pressing is a traditional greeting.

People famous for their noses


  • Cyrano de Bergerac Cyrano de Bergerac

    Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac was a French [i] dramatist [i] and duellist born in Paris [i], who ... 

  • Jimmy Durante Jimmy Durante

    James Francis Durante, better known as Jimmy Durante, was an American [i] singer [i] ... 

  • W.C. Fields W. C. Fields

    W. C. Fields was an American [i] comedian [i] and actor [i]. ... 

  • Major Kovatzov in Nikolai Gogol Nikolai Gogol

    Nikolai Vasilevich Gogol was a Russian writer [i].... 

    's novel The Nose.
  • Michael Jackson Michael Jackson

    Michael Jackson is a thirteen-time Grammy award winning singer/songwriter who dominated pop music in the 1970s... 

  • Karl Malden Karl Malden

    Karl Malden is an Oscar [i]-winning American [i] actor [i], known for his e ... 

  • Jack Nicholson Jack Nicholson

    John Joseph "Jack" Nicholson is a highly successful and sought-after, iconic [i] American [i] ... 

     in the film Chinatown Chinatown

    A Chinatown is a section an urban area associated with a large number of Chinese [i] re... 

    by Roman Polanski Roman Polanski

    Roman Raymond Polanski is an Academy Award [i]-winning Polish [i] film director [i] and actor [i] ... 

  • Barbra Streisand Barbra Streisand

    Barbara Joan Streisand is a two-time Academy Award [i]-winning American [i] ... 



References

  1. Physical Manual:
  2. Eden Warwick , Nasology, or hints towards a classification of Noses, London, Richard Bentley, 1848
  3. Encyclopedia Britannica Micropedia, 1982

See also

  • Empty nose syndrome Empty nose syndrome

    Empty nest syndrome, is a condition that is caused when too much inner nasal mucus [i]-producing tissues ... 

  • hooknose Hooknose

    A hooknose is a nose [i] that is curved or hooked.... 



— the WikiSaurus Wiktionary

Wiktionary is a Wikimedia Foundation [i] project intended to be a free wiki [i] dictionary [i] in ever ... 

 list of synonyms and slang words for the nose in many languages
  • sneeze
  • photic sneeze reflex Photic sneeze reflex

    Photic sneeze reflex is a medical condition by which people exposed to bright light sneeze [i]. ... 

  • nose-picking Nose-picking

    Nose-picking is the act of extracting mucus [i] or foreign bodies from the nose [i] with a finger [i] ... 

  • nosebleed
  • Little's area Kiesselbach's plexus

    Kiesselbach's area, also Kiesselbach's plexus and Little's area, is a region in the anteroin... 

  • olfactory system Olfactory system

    The olfactory system is the sensory system [i] used for olfaction [i]. ... 

  • mucus
  • rhinoplasty
  • Jala neti Jala neti

    Jala neti is an ancient Indian yoga [i] technique, meaning literally "water cleansing", where the practi ... 

  • Sròn

External links

  • This website discusses the differences in Asian noses.