Anatomy of the nose and throat
The nose
The nose is the organ of smell located in the middle of the face. The
internal part of the nose lies above the roof of the mouth. The nose consists
of:
- External meatus - triangular-shaped projection in the center of the face
- External nostrils - two chambers divided by the septum
- Septum - made up primarily of cartilage and bone and covered by mucous
membranes. The cartilage also gives shape and support to the outer part of the
nose.
- Nasal passages - passages that are lined with mucous membranes and tiny
hairs (cilia) that help to filter the air.
- Sinuses - four pairs of air-filled cavities, also lined with mucous
membranes.
The sinuses
The sinuses are cavities, or air-filled pockets, near the nasal passage. As
in the nasal passage, the sinuses are lined with mucous membranes. There are
different types of sinuses:
- Ethmoid sinus - located inside the face, around the area of the bridge of
the nose. This sinus is present at birth, and continues to grow.
- Maxillary sinus - located inside the face, around the area of the cheeks.
This sinus is also present at birth, and continues to grow.
- Frontal sinus - located inside the face, in the area of the forehead. This
sinus does not develop until around 7 years of age.
The throat
The throat is a ring-like muscular tube that acts as the passageway for air,
food, and liquid. The throat also helps in forming speech. The throat consists
of:
- Larynx - also known as the voice box, the larynx is a cylindrical grouping
of cartilage, muscles, and soft tissue which contains the vocal cords. The
vocal cords protect the upper opening into the windpipe (trachea), the
passageway to the lungs.
- Epiglottis - a flap of soft tissue located just above the vocal cords. The
epiglottis folds down over the vocal cords to prevent food and irritants from
entering the lungs.
Tonsils and adenoids - made up of lymph tissue and are located at the back
and the sides of the mouth. They have little purpose and often cause medical
problems such as obstructed breathing and recurrent infections.