nose: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Photos and Videos

Medical illustration showing a sagittal section of the human head focused on the nasal cavity, with labeled parts including the frontal and sphenoid sinuses, ethmoid bone, conchae, nasal vestibule, oral cavity, soft palate, anterior nasal spine, and tongue.

Cross-section diagram of the olfactory epithelium in the nasal cavity, showing labeled structures including olfactory receptor cells, supporting cells, basal cells, Bowman's gland, olfactory nerve fibers, cilia, and odor molecules.

A swimmer wearing goggles and a swim cap turns their head to breathe while swimming in open water, emphasizing the act of breathing during exercise.

See All Videos and Images →

Topics

paranasal sinus nostril nasopharynx snout vestibule nasal septum nasal cavity olfactory organ Why Do Our Noses Have Two Nostrils?Why do dogs have wet noses?human ear skeleton blood bone connective tissue Tissue heart fluid lymph lung

Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic

human respiratory system: The nose

Superficial arteries and veins of face and scalp, cardiovascular system, human anatomy, (Netter replacement project - SSC)

The Human Body

Muscles of facial expression, human anatomy, (Netter replacement project - SSC). Human face, human head.

Characteristics of the Human Body

Male muscle, man flexing arm, bicep curl.

Facts You Should Know: The Human Body Quiz