12.- THE NOSE

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. Let’s be nosy and find out some more about the nose.

Nose Parts

The nose has two holes called nostrils. The nostrils and the nasal passages are separated by a wall called the septum (say: sep-tum). 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 (say: kar-tel-ij), 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 the nasal 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).

Getting the Air in There

When you inhale air through your nostrils, the air enters the nasal passages and travels into your nasal cavity. The air then passes down the back of your throat into the trachea (say: tray-kee-uh), or windpipe, on its way to the lungs.

Your nose is also a two-way street. When you exhale the old air from your lungs, the nose is the main way for the air to leave your body. But your nose is more than a passageway for air. The nose also warms, moistens, and filters the air before it goes to the lungs.