Human Nose Structure
The human nose is structured to receive air, to warm and filter it prior to entering the lungs and to give us the sense of smell. The nose is positioned in the middle of the face and is shaped like a pyramid.
The skeletal upper
The upper part of the human nose structure is largely made up of bone. The very top of the nose (closest to the eye sockets) consists of the two nasal bones, which meet the main bone of the forehead, called the frontal bone. The nasal bones are connected to form the bridge of the nose. To the outer sides of the nasal bones lies the frontal process of maxilla which extends upward from the cheekbones. The bottom ends of the nasal bones are met with septal and lateral nasal cartilage.
The soft lower
The lower part of the human nose structure is made up of cartilage and fibrofatty tissue. Once the nasal bones end, the bridge of the nose continues with septal cartilage which forms the dividing wall. The plates on either side of the septal cartilage are called lateral nasal cartilage. Further down, you'll find the major alar cartilage (which runs from the tip to either side of the nose almost to the cheeks and forms the shape of the nostrils). Fibrofatty tissue surrounds this dense connective tissue.
Peeking inside
The openings to the nose, called nostrils, lead to the vestibule (part of the nasal cavity lined with skin carrying nasal hair). The cartilage separating the nostrils is called the septal cartilage. Further, the nasal cavity becomes lined with mucous membrane which is more delicate. The olfactory epithelium lines the uppermost part of the nasal cavity and contains receptor cells which enable the sense of smell.
The human nose structure is delicate, with the nasal bones being susceptible to fracture. Nosebleeds are also common due to the blood-rich lining of the nose being easily ruptured.
