An essential part of both your respiratory and olfactory systems, your nose helps you breathe and smell, but that's not all it does. So what are the facts about our nose, which is the most important organ of our body?
Experts say that the nose also has some surprising features that most of us are unaware of. In fact, your nose is probably performing one of these fascinating functions every time you breathe, sneeze, or talk. Read on to learn 3 weird facts you didn't know about your nose and prepare for a whole new level of appreciation for this miraculous body part.
1. YOU USUALLY BREATH THROUGH THE NOSE ONE AT A TIME
Your nose is a single structure divided by the septum into two openings. While most of us always feel like we're breathing equally through both nostrils, experts say we actually use one dominant nostril to do most of the heavy lifting of breathing, and then switch sides. "At any given time, people do about 75 percent of their breath through one nostril and 25 percent through the other," say experts .
Her experts say you can try this fun experiment at home: "If you approach the mirror and breathe through your nose, the mirror will fog up. Two traces of water vapor accumulate on the surface, one for each nostril. But one scar will be larger than the other, because people often have one nose at a time. They breathe through their hole." they say.
2. YOUR NOSE HUMIDIFIES THE AIR BEFORE IT REACHES YOUR Lungs
As one of your body's primary routes to your lungs, the nose performs an important function: it moistens your breath. It does this by sending air through the turbinate, a series of narrow bony structures located in the upper nasal cavity that moisten and warm the air on its way to the lungs.
Ear, nose and throat specialists “ This runny nose you get in cold weather is the best example of this warming and moisturizing effect. It comes from the condensation of moisture in your nose when cold air comes in," she says.
3. YOUR NOSE WORKS AS AN AIR CLEANER
Another important function of the nose is to clean the air before it reaches your lungs. "The entire airway system is covered with a thin layer of sticky mucus that traps dust particles, bacteria, and other contaminants," explains the Allergy and Asthma Network. "Small hairs called cilia sweep mucus from your nasal cavity to the back of your throat, where it can be swallowed and neutralized in your stomach," the experts write.
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