What do scientists know about the structure of the human nose?
article It was originally thought that a nasal membrane was the first thing the nose would be exposed to during the first stages of a cold, but research now suggests that the nasal cavity is actually more complex than that.
Dr Paul Dolan, a professor of medicine at the University of Queensland’s School of Medicine, said the structure was not only more complex, but had a number of layers.
“The nasal membrane has a series of compartments,” he said.
“Each of those compartments can contain some kind of chemical, and some of those chemicals may be able to bind to molecules that are in the nasal mucosa.”
“What we’re seeing is that it has a lot more than just the nasal membrane that is involved in nasal mucosal immunity.”
What you’re looking at is a complex structure of molecules that can bind to and activate molecules in the mucosa that can also bind to other molecules, which may in turn activate some other molecules.
“And those other molecules are then going to activate some more molecules that have been previously activated.”
Dr Dolan said it was possible that the nose might be able “to respond to the environment”, such as the presence of a virus or other airborne bacteria.
“There’s also a possibility that this could have a role in regulating mucosal barrier function,” he added.
“It’s very possible that this nose could have some kind-of immunity to viruses and other airborne microbes.”
Dr Paul also said the nasal membranes were a complex organ, with a number, often subtle, differences in their structures.
“In the case of the nose, the nose may have a large number of compasses that are arranged in an organized fashion, with those compasses arranged in such a way that they are connected to the surface of the mucous membrane,” he explained.
“So, for example, you have a single nose and a nose and one or two nasal compasses.”
“But there are also some other structures in the nose that are connected by a number that may have different structures that are also connected by compasses, which could lead to some sort of connection between the nasal cells, the cells that line the nasal walls, and the cells lining the nasal passages.”
“So it’s a very complex system that’s very, very, complex.”
Dr Mark Ahern, an assistant professor at the National University of Singapore’s School for the Ear and Nose, agreed that the structures in human noses were complex.
“All of us know that there are many different layers of the nasal wall, but what we’re not so sure about is what that’s really all about,” he told News.org.au.
“Because the nasal structure may not even be that complex.
It’s just a lot of small details that make up what we think is the nasal layer.””
There is a number or combinations of different layers that may or may not be there, but in general the nasal tissue is composed of different materials.”
Dr Ahern said the mucosal membranes could be a useful part of the immune system, but it was not clear what that meant.
“If you look at what we see in people who have nasal cancer, you can see a very clear relationship between how the mucus is structured and the mucosae and what’s going to trigger the response,” he advised.
“But it’s not clear exactly what that response is.”
We need to do a lot better research, but so far, we don’t really know how the nasal lining works.””
I think we do know, though, that the structure is a part of how the immune response is activated.
“He said there was a great deal of debate over whether the structure could actually be a component of immunity.