functions of the nose
This is one of the three main functions of the nose, helping trap particles.
What is filtering?
This hard structure separates the oral and nasal cavities.
What is the hard palate?
This cartilage is also known as the Adam’s apple.
What is the thyroid cartilage?
This watery layer allows cilia to beat easily.
What is the sol layer?
Cartilage disappears in airways smaller than this diameter.
What is 1 mm?
The nose helps add moisture to inhaled air through this process.
What is humidifying?
This soft structure helps close off the nasal passage during swallowing.
What is the soft palate?
This ring-shaped cartilage is the narrowest point in an infant’s airway.
What is the cricoid cartilage?
These glands produce most of the respiratory tract secretions.
What are submucosal glands?
These forces help keep small airways open below the terminal bronchioles.
What is radial traction?
Highly vascularized tissue in the inner nose helps with this temperature-related function.
What is warming the air?
These lymphatic structures help fight infection in the oral cavity.
What are the palatine tonsils?
This ligament is the site of emergency cricothyrotomy.
What is the cricothyroid ligament?
These nerves cause bronchoconstriction.
What are parasympathetic nerves?
This cartilage marks the tracheal bifurcation.
What is the carina?
These structures provide a large surface area for warming and humidifying gases.
What are inner nasal structures?
This muscular organ helps with speech and swallowing.
What is the tongue?
This spoon-shaped structure protects the lower airway.
What is the epiglottis?
These immune cells release histamine, causing airway constriction.
What are mast cells?
This zone has the largest cross-sectional area in the airway.
What is the respiratory zone?
The nose is one of the first lines of defense against these three inhaled threats.
What are particles, pollutants, and bugs?
This dangling structure helps direct food away from the airway.
What is the uvula?
This space between the tongue and epiglottis is key for intubation.
What is the vallecula?
This outer layer contains cartilage and connective tissue for airway rigidity.
What is the cartilaginous/adventitia layer?
These tiny channels connect alveoli to terminal bronchioles.
What are the Canals of Lambert?