 |
 |
The nose knows.
Why do we need our sense of smell?
Though it is not fully understood, the sense of smell is more important than you may think. It is directly related to the sensation of taste, because the brain requires both smell and taste to be able to distinguish most flavors.
Olfactory nerve cells (smell receptor cells) are located in the upper nasal cavity and connect directly to the brain. These nerve cells have tiny cilia (like tiny little hairs) that are stimulated by different chemicals in the odors around us. When stimulated, the cilia send nerve impulses to the brain, and the brain perceives the smell.
Research indicates that people who have a diminished or lost sense of smell experience a reduced appetite and food "just doesn't taste right." This can affect our enjoyment of eating, socializing and quality of life.
Our sense of smell also alerts us to potential harm, such as a fire, hazardous chemicals or gases, and spoiled food.
(Click here for one patient's
story.) For these reasons, a sense of smell and taste is especially important for people who work in certain fields, such as cooking or fire
protection.
Why do we have sinuses?
The main purpose of the sinuses is not fully understood. Some experts maintain that they exist to lighten the weight of the skull, while others note that the sinuses improve the resonance of your voice.
Another theory claims the sinuses are there to ensure that, in the event of severe trauma, the facial skeleton will crumple and collapse in order to absorb most of the force of the trauma and protect the brain from injury.
|
|
|
|
Nasal Anatomy
The nose and sinuses
Amazingly sensitive and complex, your nose has two main functions:
1. It serves as the organ of smell and is directly related to the sense of taste
2. It is the primary passage for air into and out of your lungs
Adjacent to the nose, there are hollow, air-filled cavities in the bones of the face and skull, about the size of a walnut. These are called the paranasal sinuses, which are connected to the nose by a small opening (an ostium).Each person has four pairs of sinuses:
-
Frontal – located in the forehead region
-
Maxillary – in the cheek area
-
Ethmoid – between the eyes
-
Sphenoid – deep in the center of the skull
Both the nose and the sinuses produce a special mucus that keeps the inside of the nose moist and protects it from dust, dirt, pollutants and bacteria. Each person produces about one quart or one liter of mucus per day! |
|
This layer of mucus is propelled by tiny hair cells (called cilia) toward the back of your nose and throat, where it is swallowed. Mucus does not "drain" via gravity as is commonly thought; the cilia actually move the mucus in a genetically specific direction.
The nose and sinuses are composed of many anatomical features; however, the ones most often implicated in nasal obstruction problems are the
turbinates, septum, and sinuses. This anatomy varies somewhat from person to person, and sometimes these anatomical differences can cause breathing problems or nasal
blockage.
Click on a link below to learn more about these common problem areas of the nose.
back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
