Table of contents:
- The function of the nose apart from kissing
- Why do people have different noses?
- The shape of the nose that shows the health condition
- 1. Snub nose
- 2. Saddle nose
- 3. Potato nose
- 4. Big nose
- Is it true that the shape of the nose affects a person's personality?
If you pay attention and realize, the shape of the nose of everyone around you must have special characteristics, which of course differ from one another. There are those who have big noses, are more sharp, slightly sticking up, or even snub. In fact, the varying shape of the nose can determine the health condition of the human body, you know. Check out the following article for a complete explanation.
The function of the nose apart from kissing
The human nose is not just a lump of flesh and cartilage on the front of the face. Apart from being part of the respiratory system where air is in and out, the nose also plays a role in other important body functions, such as the sense of taste and hearing.
Without your nose, your body won't be able to taste food properly. What we feel on the tongue is actually a combination of the cooperation of several human senses. One of them is the sense of smell.
When you eat something, your nose smells the food and sends information to your mouth. This process is called referral smell. This is the reason why when you have the flu or a cold cough, the smells that occur also affect your sense of taste, so that food tastes bland.
Believe it or not, the nose also plays a role in hearing function. In the anatomy of the human nose, there is a nasal nasopharynx, which is flanked on both sides by the eustachian tube. This tube connects the nasopharynx to the middle ear.
The nasopharynx will fill the middle ear with air, balancing the air pressure in the ear with the air conditions around your body. This process is an essential part of good hearing.
Why do people have different noses?
You may be wondering why everyone's nose has a variety of shapes. For example, Europeans and Americans have a large and sharp nose, while people living in Asia and Africa tend to have a broad nose.
Although basically the shape of a person's nose is genetically determined, there are also other factors that determine it, namely the ability of humans to adapt to different climates. You may be wondering, what does the difference in climate have to do with the shape of the human nose?
A study conducted by a team of experts from Pennsylvania State University in the United States succeeded in uncovering the reasons that the shape of the human nose is different in every part of the world. Research published in journals PLOS: Genetics This reveals that people living in America or Europe have sharp noses so they can adapt to very cold and dry air.
With a sharp and slender nose, even the inhaled air will not directly enter the respiratory system. The air will remain in the nose longer so that the temperature and humidity can be regulated and warmed first before going to the lungs.
Meanwhile, the nose of Asian or African people tends to be shorter because the air does not need to be held long to get warm. The reason is, the air in these countries is warm and humid enough for the lungs. Because of this necessity of survival and adaptation, the human nose in each country takes on a different shape.
The shape of the nose that shows the health condition
The size and shape of the human nose can vary, depending on genetics and any injuries it may have experienced.
However, it turns out that there are also certain nose shapes that can determine your health condition. Here are what a nose looks like and what health conditions might underlie it:
1. Snub nose
Alias of a small, slightly flat nose with a gentle curve, and the tip of the nose is slightly high showing the nostrils.
However, do you know? This nose shape can also be one of the signs of three rare genetic conditions, viz blackfan anemia, pure red cell aplasia, and otospondylomegaepiphyseal dysplasia (OSMED).
Sufferers pure red cell aplasia have bone marrow that is unable to produce enough red blood cells. Meanwhile, OSMED is a condition of abnormal bone growth that causes hearing loss, abnormal skull shape, and changes in the characteristics of other facial features.
2. Saddle nose
The alias saddle nose, is a condition where the support structure of the nose is lost, which weakens the nasal septum, causing the nose to completely collapse inward.
Nasal abnormalities can be located on the bridge of the nose, in the cartilage area, or on the bridge of the nose. The nasal septum, the soft wall that divides the two nostrils, can be damaged and pushed to the left or right, or the nose can grow sideways.
This condition is also called nasal septal deviation, or septal deviation. These irregularities can cause breathing problems and discomfort because one or both of the nasal passages is smaller than they should be, resulting in a blocked nose.
Saddle nose can be caused by a variety of things, which include:
- a history of septoplasty (nose surgery)
- failed nose plastic surgery
- drug use
- certain medical conditions (dwarfism, inherited syphilis, nose trauma)
- cleidocranial dystosis (a genetic disease that causes the sufferer's nose bridge to be low and short)
3. Potato nose
Alias of guava nose, or the medical term rhinophima. Rinofima is a rare skin condition in which the nose is bulbous, large, red, thickened, oily, and bumpy.
The exact cause of this condition is unknown, although it has been linked to excessive alcohol consumption. A number of studies have shown that rhinophima can occur both in alcohol drinkers and not at all. This condition is more common in men.
Rinofima is also associated with rosacea. Rosacea is an inflammation of the skin that causes skin irritation and redness, especially on the cheeks and nose. A small, red, pus-colored lump may also appear on your face as this condition develops.
Rinofima generally appears in the late stages of rosacea and develops slowly over several years. A common sign of rhinophyma is a congestion of the mass in the middle to the tip of the nose, which causes deviation of facial features in most cases.
4. Big nose
Big nose is common to many people all over the world. However, if the shape of a large nose is followed by hands and feet that also enlarge to a point where rings, jewelry or shoes can no longer fit, this is a classic symptom of acromegaly.
Acromegaly can also cause you to experience gradual changes in your face, such as a protruding lower jaw, thickened tongue and lips, and widened teeth spaces. In addition, acromegaly also causes excessive sweating and body odor, vision damage, and limited joint motion and pain.
Acromegaly is caused by hormonal disturbances in the pituitary gland that produce growth hormone outside of normal limits. When this happens, your bones will also get bigger, followed by changes in other physical characteristics.
Acromegaly is usually found in adults. In children, this excess growth hormone is known as gigantism, which causes them to grow abnormally large and tall. Acromegaly develops slowly, so early symptoms may not appear for several years.
Is it true that the shape of the nose affects a person's personality?
You may have heard the myth that a person's personality can be read from their physical appearance, including through the shape of their nose. In fact, this myth has been studied scientifically, you know.
This is reviewed in an article at SM Otolaryngology. The article compares some literature or written work that discusses the meaning of the nose and its relation to human personality.
One of them is a book Face Reading, which discusses 12 different nose shapes and the characteristics of the nose owner. For example, a straight nose indicates that someone is likable, can think clearly, has high tolerance, and can be trusted.
However, the article emphasizes that there is no scientific evidence that can explain what the nose shape has to do with a person's psychology. Most of the literature that discusses this phenomenon only collects data through surveys and matches them with the characteristics of each participant.
Whatever the shape and size of your nose, make sure you take good care of your nose. A healthy, clean, and well-maintained nose will protect you from various other health problems.