Parts of human nose - External structure

• Nasal bones - two oblong shaped bones which connect vertically and run from the top to the middle of the nose. They form the bridge of the nose and vary in size depending on the individual.
• Septal Cartilage (quadrangular cartilage) - adjoins the nasal bones at their inferior border and forms the dividing wall of the nose. Situated at the anterior margin of the ethmoid bone.
• Lateral nasal cartilage - this dense connective tissue is situated below the nasal bones and the frontal process of the maxilla. These plates connect to the septal cartilage on either side.
• Major alar cartilage (Greater alar cartilage or lower lateral cartilage) - situated immediately below the lateral cartilage and forms the tip of the nose and nostrils.
• Minor alar cartilage (Lesser alar cartilage) - smaller plate with anterior margin connecting to the major alar cartilage.
• Fibro-fatty tissue - separates the plates of cartilage.
• Nostril - one of two openings to the nose.

Parts of human nose - Nasal cavity

• Vestibule - situated immediately above the nostril and lined with hair-bearing skin.
• Septum - wall made of bone and cartilage which separates the nasal cavity.
• Cribriform plate of ethmoid bone - central part of the nasal cavity roof which forms part of the floor of the cranial cavity which contains the brain. This narrow piece of bone is perforated.
• Frontal air sinus - airspace lined with mucosa situated behind the superciliary arches. Opens into the middle meatus via the frontonasal duct.
• Sphenoidal air sinus - air-filled paranasal sinus lined with mucous membrane and contained within the sphenoid.
• Olfactory nerve - transmits the sense of smell from the nasal cavity to the brain.
• Hard palate - this bone separates the oral cavity from the nasal cavity.
• Soft palate - closes the nasal cavity from the oral cavity when swallowing.
• Choana - opening to the pharynx.
• Upper Meatus (superior meatus) - nasal opening situated between the upper and lower turbinates. Smallest of the meatuses.
• Middle Meatus - nasal opening or canal running from the anterior to the posterior end of the inferior nasal concha (lower turbine).
• Lower Meatus (inferior meatus) - largest nasal meatus situated between the lower turbinate and the floor of the nasal cavity.
• Upper turbinate (superior nasal concha) - contains olfactory receptor cells. Olfactory cilia are found on the mucous membrane situated here.
• Middle turbinate - spongy bone situated between the upper meatus and the middle meatus.
• Lower turbinate (inferior nasal concha) - one of the three nasal turbinates which lies between the middle meatus and the lower meatus.

• Nasal bones - two oblong shaped bones which connect vertically and run from the top to the middle of the nose. They form the bridge of the nose and vary in size depending on the individual.
• Septal Cartilage (quadrangular cartilage) - adjoins the nasal bones at their inferior border and forms the dividing wall of the nose. Situated at the anterior margin of the ethmoid bone.
• Lateral nasal cartilage - this dense connective tissue is situated below the nasal bones and the frontal process of the maxilla. These plates connect to the septal cartilage on either side.
• Major alar cartilage (Greater alar cartilage or lower lateral cartilage) - situated immediately below the lateral cartilage and forms the tip of the nose and nostrils.
• Minor alar cartilage (Lesser alar cartilage) - smaller plate with anterior margin connecting to the major alar cartilage.
• Fibro-fatty tissue - separates the plates of cartilage.
• Nostril - one of two openings to the nose.

• Vestibule - situated immediately above the nostril and lined with hair-bearing skin.
• Septum - wall made of bone and cartilage which separates the nasal cavity.
• Cribriform plate of ethmoid bone - central part of the nasal cavity roof which forms part of the floor of the cranial cavity which contains the brain. This narrow piece of bone is perforated.
• Frontal air sinus - airspace lined with mucosa situated behind the superciliary arches. Opens into the middle meatus via the frontonasal duct.
• Sphenoidal air sinus - air-filled paranasal sinus lined with mucous membrane and contained within the sphenoid.
• Olfactory nerve - transmits the sense of smell from the nasal cavity to the brain.
• Hard palate - this bone separates the oral cavity from the nasal cavity.
• Soft palate - closes the nasal cavity from the oral cavity when swallowing.
• Choana - opening to the pharynx.
• Upper Meatus (superior meatus) - nasal opening situated between the upper and lower turbinates. Smallest of the meatuses.
• Middle Meatus - nasal opening or canal running from the anterior to the posterior end of the inferior nasal concha (lower turbine).
• Lower Meatus (inferior meatus) - largest nasal meatus situated between the lower turbinate and the floor of the nasal cavity.
• Upper turbinate (superior nasal concha) - contains olfactory receptor cells. Olfactory cilia are found on the mucous membrane situated here.
• Middle turbinate - spongy bone situated between the upper meatus and the middle meatus.
• Lower turbinate (inferior nasal concha) - one of the three nasal turbinates which lies between the middle meatus and the lower meatus.

All the parts of human nose work together to warm, filter and moisten air coming in to the lungs and to send messages to the brain enabling the sensation of smell. It's an intricate network of bones, cartilage plates, cells and nerve endings.