Nose Detect Smell

How does the nose detect smell?

            The nose is an indispensable organ that is used for breathing and sense of smell. If it is not working properly, we cannot distinguish between foul smell and fragrance. How the nose detects smell?

The Internal Structure of Human Nose

            The nose may look like a very simple structure but it is very complicated in nature. The nose is composed of two bones and is situated between the yes below the head and above the lips. These two bones from a kind of bridge. In between them lies a wall of cartilage. Which divides the nose into two parts called the nasal cavities. At the end of the nasal cavities lies a thin membrane called the mucous membrane, which secretes a special fluid. This fluid keeps the nose moist. The hair inside the nose waves back and forth to prevent dust particles, bacteria and fluids from entering the lungs. So the air that goes into the lungs through the trachea has already been filtered by the nose.

            The smell is detected by the cells present in the two olfactory nerves situated at the end of the nasal cavities. These cells are called receptors and are embedded in the mucous membrane. They are spread over an area of 250 square millimeters.

            It is believed that the sense of smell is closely related to that of taste. We know that if a man has blindfolded and his nose was blocked, he would not be able to differentiate the taste between a potato and an apple?

What is Cartilage?

            Cartilage is protein fiber glass like material often called gristle. It helps to reduce friction and jarring between bones.

Cartilage of human ear

            Cartilage is found in several organs of the body, such as the outer part of the ear, the tip of the nose, the larynx and wind pipe trachea. It is also found in all movable joints, where it helps to reduce friction and acts as a shock absorber. It also makes up the spongy discs between the vertebrae of the spine.

            Cartilage has no blood supply and unlike bones, does not repair itself when damaged. So a damaged knee cartilage may have to be removed by surgery. Sometimes, cartilage becomes weakened. Arthritis is partly caused by the wearing away of cartilage in joints. Cartilage plays a pivotal role in the body.