Human nose

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Human nose
Human nose in profile
The nose of a Japanese child
Latin nasus
Artery sphenopalatine artery, greater palatine artery
Vein facial vein
Nerve external nasal nerve
Dorlands/Elsevier n_10/12578550

The visible part of the human nose is the protruding part of the face that bears the nostrils. 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.

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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.

Human noses can take many different shapes. Several attempts have been made towards a classification of noses. The following examples are from Nasology by Eden Warwick (pseudonym of George Jabet). This 19th century tract associated nose shapes with character traits in a way akin to phrenology, in a somewhat ironic way, as the booklet was intended to mock the popular but highly controversial subject of phrenology.

  • Class I: The Roman, or Aquiline nose, which is rather convex, but undulating as its name aquiline imports. (See: Hooknose)
  • Class II: The Greek or Straight nose, which is perfectly straight
  • Class III: The Nubian, 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 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

In the Western world, some people choose to get rhinoplasty to change the aesthetic appearance of their nose. Nose piercings are also common, such as nostril, septum or bridge.

In New Zealand, nose pressing ("hongi") is a traditional greeting amongst Maori people, however is now generally confined to certain traditional celebrations.

  1. ^ Surgeon: Michael Jackson A 'Nasal Cripple', ABC News, February 8, 2003
  2. ^ "Legendary singer Barry Manilow has broken his famous nose", June 5, 2003, WENN
  3. ^ "The star - who is almost as famous for the size of his nose as his hit songs - injured himself as he got up in the middle of the night while at his Californian home." Manilow breaks his nose, BBC News, June 4, 2003

  • Eden Warwick (pseudonym of George Jabet), Nasology, or hints towards a classification of Noses, London, Richard Bentley, 1848
  • Encyclopedia Britannica Micropedia, 1982

Look up WikiSaurus:nose in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
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