THE NOSE. 



THE nose is the special organ of the sense of smell. It has also other functions 

 to fulfil : for, communicating freely with the cavities of the mouth and lungs, it is 

 concerned in respiration, voice, and taste ; and by means of its muscles it assists in 

 expression. 



The nose forms a prominence composed of bone and hyaline cartilage with 

 certain muscles, and a general covering of integument. At its lower extremity or 

 base the nostrils (anterior nares) open downwards. Its upper end is the root, the 

 rounded or flattened ridge along its middle is termed the dorsum, and this ends 

 below in the point of the nose. The upper or bony part of the dorsum is often 

 spoken of as the bridge; it frequently forms an angle with the cartilaginous part 

 (aquiline type). The root springs from below the glabella of the frontal bone, 

 with which it usually forms a more or less marked angle, so that the nose appears 

 to spring from a well-marked groove : if this groove is absent, and the line of the 

 dorsum is continuous with the plane of the forehead, the Grecian type of nose is 

 produced. The sides of the nose, which form an open angle (naso-facial angle] 

 with the general anterior surface of the face, diverge from the dorsum at an 

 increasing angle as we trace them down from the root ; the nose is therefore 

 broadest below at the nostrils. This lowest part of the lateral wall is slightly bulged 

 outwards, and is separated from the rest by a slight groove ; it is known as the ala 

 of the nose, and is mobile, its form being capable of alteration by the action of 

 certain muscles, which thereby dilate or contract the nostrils. A median parti- 

 tion (septum nasi) divides the interior of the nose into two approximately equal 

 parts, the right and left nasal fossw. These open above and behind into the 

 pharynx by the posterior nares (choanse), and below on to the exterior by the 

 anterior nares. The septum is composed of bone and cartilage in the greater part 

 of its extent, but at its lower end it is formed only of integument and connective 

 tissue (septum mobile, or columna nasi). This part of the septum forms the mesial 

 boundary or sej a ration between the anterior nares ; in the rest of their extent they 

 are bounded by the curved free margin of the alge. 



From the development and complexity of the nasal fossae and olfactory lobes of the 

 cerebrum mammals are divided by Turner into the three subdivisions of macroxmatics. 

 including 1 rodents, carnivora, marsupials, and most mammals ; microfmatics, including man 

 and most primates, monotremes, and some cetacea ; and anosmatics, including certain cetacea 

 (e.g., porpoise). 



The nasal fossse communicate with hollows in the neighbouring bones (ethmoid, 

 sphenoid, frontal, and superior maxillary). The skin of the nose is studded, 

 particularly in the grooves of the alse or outer walls of the nostrils, with numerous 

 small openings, which lead to sebaceous follicles. Within the margin of the nostrils 

 are a number of short, stiff, and slightly curved hairs vibrissce which grow from 

 the inner surface of the alee and septum nasi. 



As is well known the nose presents great variety in size and shape in different 

 individuals. Into most of these it is unnecessary here to enter, but there is 

 one kind of variation which is of considerable anthropological importance, viz., 

 the extent of lateral expansion of the anterior nares as compared with the 



