Human nose

Human nose
Human nose
	Human nose in profile
	File:Nose.JPG The nose of a child
Details
Artery	sphenopalatine artery, greater palatine artery
Vein	facial vein
Nerve	external nasal nerve
Identifiers
Latin	nasus
TA98	A06.1.01.001; A01.1.00.009
TA2	117
FMA	46472
	Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

The visible part of the human nose is the protruding part of the face that bears the nostrils. The shape of the nose is determined by the ethmoid bone and the nasal septum, which consists mostly of cartilage and which separates the nostrils. Generally the nose of a male is larger than that of a female.

Associated health risks

Because of the special nature of the blood supply to the human nose and surrounding area, it is possible for retrograde infections from the nasal area to spread to the brain. For this reason, the area from the corners of the mouth to the bridge of the nose, including the nose and maxilla, is known to doctors as the danger triangle of the face.

Shapes of the human nose

Human noses can take many different shapes. Several attempts have been made towards a classification of noses. The following examples are from Nasology by Eden Warwick (pseudonym of George Jabet). This 19th century tract associated nose shapes with character traits in a way akin to phrenology, in a somewhat ironic way, as the booklet was intended to mock the popular but highly controversial subject of phrenology.

Class I: The Roman, or Aquiline nose, which is rather convex, but undulating as its name aquiline imports. (See: Hooknose) Aquiline is a word that means a "nose hooked like a bird's".
Class II: The Greek or Straight nose, which is perfectly straight
Class III: The Nubian, or Wide-nostrilled nose, wide at the end, thick and broad, gradually widening from below the bridge. The other noses are seen in profile, but this one in full face.
Class IV: The Hawk nose, which is very convex, and preserves its convexity like a bow. It is thin and sharp
Class V: The Snub nose
Class VI: The Turn-up or Celestial nose, with a continuous concavity from the eyes to the tip

Class I
Class II
Class III

Class III
Class IV
Class V
Class VI

Culture

In the Western world, some people choose to get rhinoplasty to change the aesthetic appearance of their nose. Nose piercings are also common, such as nostril, septum or bridge.

In New Zealand, nose pressing ("hongi") is a traditional greeting amongst Maori people, however is now generally confined to certain traditional celebrations.

People famous for their noses

John Barrymore known as "The Great Profile"
Cyrano de Bergerac
Adrien Brody
Annabelle Crawford
Jimmy Durante. Cartoonist Al Hirschfeld questioned the size of Durante's nose. In The World of Hirschfeld (1966) he illustrated the point by taking a picture of Durante and adding white hair, a cigar, and a few other features, and leaving the nose untouched--and he came up with an uncanny likeness of former governor of New York, Alfred E. Smith.
Jennifer Grey
W.C. Fields
Bill Lawry, famous Cricket commentator for Channel Nine, who is distinguished by his long nose.
Pinocchio, whose nose grew whenever he told a lie.
Michael Jackson known for having multiple plastic surgery on his nose ^[1].
Major Kovalyov in Nikolai Gogol's novel The Nose.
Barry Manilow known for his large nose, often parodied ^[2], ^[3]
Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown (1974) by Roman Polanski
Duke of Wellington - The first Duke of Wellington was so renowned for his large hooked nose that his troops gave him the nickname of 'Nosey'.
Barbra Streisand
Tycho Brahe lost his nose in a duel and wore a prosthetic nose made of gold and silver
Severus Snape in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series
Gonzo in The Muppets
Erik, From "Phantom of the Opera" by Gaston Leroux, did not have a nose at all.

References

^ Surgeon: Michael Jackson A 'Nasal Cripple', ABC News, February 8, 2003
^ "Legendary singer Barry Manilow has broken his famous nose", June 5, 2003, WENN
^ "The star - who is almost as famous for the size of his nose as his hit songs - injured himself as he got up in the middle of the night while at his Californian home." Manilow breaks his nose, BBC News, June 4, 2003

External links

[1] Surgeon: Michael Jackson A 'Nasal Cripple', ABC News, February 8, 2003

[2] "Legendary singer Barry Manilow has broken his famous nose", June 5, 2003, WENN

[3] "The star - who is almost as famous for the size of his nose as his hit songs - injured himself as he got up in the middle of the night while at his Californian home." Manilow breaks his nose, BBC News, June 4, 2003

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