ANATOMY OF A HEALTHY BODY

At first glance, the nose seems like such a small, insignificant part of the body. It doesn’t pump blood, like the heart. It doesn’t think and reason, like the brain. It doesn’t aid in reproduction, nor does it digest food.

Yet the nose is its own perfect structure, and its components are just as important as those other vital organs for keeping each of us alive. Without the nose, we would not be able to take in oxygen effectively, and the rest of our life-support systems, including the heart and the brain could not function. Our sense of smell and taste, both controlled by the nose, directs us to the nourishment that keeps our stomach functioning properly. These senses also warn us of impending danger, if we start to eat rancid food, or worse, if we come into contact with a life - threatening stench, such as toxic chemicals, smoke, or fire.

From an aesthetic point of view, the nose forms the center of our face and contributes to our unique appearance. In fact, our face and nose can influence another person’s opinion of us, even before we speak. When we speak, the nose and the sinuses add a tonal quality to our words. And when we smile, our nose accents this gesture with nasal motion. All of these subtleties support the overall impression we give to

people on a daily basis, and contribute to developing our personality and self-esteem.

The nose plays an integral part in many of our biological functions. Of all of its roles, the most important facet of the nose is the ability to take in air. In order for us to survive, the air we breathe needs to be transported to the lungs and then to the brain via the bloodstream. But not just any air will do. For every person, whether they live in coldest Alaska, the tropics of Florida, the Nevada desert or the Louisiana humidity, the air from the outside world needs to be cleaned, heated, and humidified to the exact same temperature and humidity before the body can use it. The air that reaches our lungs has to be regulated to near normal body temperature: between 96.8° and 98.6°F. The ideal humidity is between 75 and 80 percent.

If the nose is not performing these tasks, the rest of the body will not function optimally.

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