How the Nose works
Definition
A big batch of cookies coming out of the oven. Your gym bag full of dirty clothes. How do you smell these smells and thousands more? It's your nose, of course.
Your nose lets you smell and it's a big part of why you are able to taste things. The nose is also the main gate to the respiratory system, your body's system for breathing.
Components/Parts
The nose has two holes called nostrils. The nostrils and the nasal passages are separated by a wall called the septum. Deep inside your nose, close to your skull, your septum is made of very thin pieces of bone.Closer to the tip of your nose, the septum is made of cartilage which is flexible material that's firmer than skin or muscle. It's not as hard as bone, and if you push on the tip of your nose, you can feel how wiggly it is.Behind your nose, in the middle of your face, is a space called thenasal cavity. It connects with the back of the throat. The nasal cavity is separated from the inside of your mouth by the palate (roof of your mouth)
Operations
The nose on your face is just the tip of an iceberg. The important functions--breathing and smelling--actually happen mostly inside your head, in your nasal cavity. The air inhaled through your nostrils travels to this cavity on its way to the lungs.
The nasal cavity cleans and conditions the air. Pollutants, viruses and bacteria are trapped in mucus, which then travels to the stomach, where stomach acid neutralizes the germs.
Three structures on the sides of the cavity, called the turbinates, humidify the air. By the time air reaches the lungs, it's almost completely saturated with water vapor.
The water vapor is essential for proper function of the lungs. It's also crucial that air reaching the lungs be neither too cold nor too hot. In winter, the membranes in the nasal cavity raise the temperature of the air you breathe so your lungs never feel the bitter cold.
While scientists understand the nose and breathing, its ability to smell remains somewhat mysterious.
At the rear of the nasal cavity, behind and just above the bridge of the nose, is the olfactory epithelium--the "smelling skin" made of cells that react to chemicals.
When a molecule of a substance hits one of these receptor cells, a nerve impulse is sent to the brain. The impulse--not the smell--travels through the brain for decoding, crossing the area concerned with memory, emotion and motivated behavior. That's why the smell of popcorn may also trigger memories of a favorite movie.
As long as your nose is working, the best advice is to leave well enough alone. But if you have a lot of nosebleeds and allergies or if you suddenly can't smell, you should consult a doctor.
Applications
Our nose is a complicated — and smart — part of or chemosensory system, which consists of the senses of smell and taste. Smell has played an important role throughout human existence in helping us sniff out food, identify predators, communicate socially (such as deciding who’s attractive or trustworthy based on their unique body odor), and navigate the world.Smell is regarded as one of the most powerful and evocative senses; it can behave as a time machine of sorts in triggering memories, and aids in attraction, love, and sex. Its inner workings are considered more complicated than that of an airplane.
Conclusion
The nose is also considered the “guardian of your lungs,” acting as a filter that retains tiny particles, and humidifies and warms the air you breathe to keep the bronchial tubes moist.