How to Describe a Person's Nose

"As plain as the nose on your face" is an old expression, but is a person's nose really plain? Considering the human nose is part of the respiratory system and is responsible for getting air into the body, one would have to say the human nose is anything but plain. Air is crucial for survival, and certain smells enhance life and give us health benefits. The nose also keeps us alive by making us aware of dangerous odors that are capable of killing us. The following is a description of a person's nose.

Instructions

• 1

  Noses come in various lengths and widths, and the human nose is gracefully situated at about the center of the face. A side view of the nose will show if the shape of the nose is straight, curves up, or curves down. The widest point of the human nose is at the bottom, where a small mound of flesh with an oval-shaped opening (the external nare or nostril) sits on both sides of the nose to allow for the intake of oxygen.

• 2

  Bone and cartilage give the nose its shape. Hairs line the inside of the nostrils and are there to catch foreign debris that may be breathed in through the nose. The pathway that leads from the openings in the nose to the pharynx is called the "internal naris." The nasal cavities inside the nose include the nasal concha, the frontal sinus, the sphenoid sinus, the middle nasal concha, and the inferior nasal choncha.

• 3

  Olfactory sensory neurons are located in nose tissue that is situated in the higher part of the internal nose area. They are connected to the brain, and they are brought to action when tiny molecules are emitted from things such as a burning scented candle. These neurons help the brain recognize odors. Two paths that lead odors to the olfactory sensory neurons are via the nostrils and a passageway that links the area of the throat's roof with the nose. The latter path is the path odors from chewed food travel on to get to the olfactory sensory neurons. A stuffy nose due to a cold will prevent the sensory cells from receiving any odors. Nerve endings in the nose act to assist us in detecting irritating odors such as chopped onions.