The external human nose has a complex structure and performs very important functions. The frame of the olfactory organ consists of bones and cartilage, giving it a unique shape, which is individual for each person. However, sometimes the nose begins to hurt in some people, which causes a lot of inconvenience. Let's try to understand the main causes of pain and methods of dealing with them.
Functions of the olfactory organ
The nose, like any other organ, is responsible for certain functions.
The main ones are:
- respiratory;
- thermal control;
- moisturizing;
- protective;
- resonator;
- olfactory.
The nose not only allows us to recognize odors, but it is also responsible for heating the air we breathe and preventing viruses from entering our body.
General structure
The nose is one of the most unique organs in our body. In nature, there is no longer a single living creature with a similar structure of the nose. At the same time, the anatomical features of the external nose differ in representativesdifferent races, and also depend on the individual characteristics of the structure of the body.
The outer part of the olfactory organ is formed by a framework that forms the bones and cartilages of the nose. The latter are divided into two types:
- Lateral - in its shape resembles a triangle. Its back is adjacent to the nasal bone.
- Great alar - is responsible for giving the nostril its shape and forms the nasal cavity.
It is worth noting that, depending on the individual physiological characteristics of a particular person, additional nasal cartilages, which are called sesamoid in medicine, may be present in the nose. They give additional rigidity to the bone frame. All cartilage is interconnected by fibrous tissue.
Of particular importance in the structure of the organ of smell is the nasal septum, which is responsible for dividing the internal space of the nose into two equal parts. It consists of two areas - lower and upper. The first is mobile, and most of it is the cartilage of the nasal septum. In its shape, it resembles a rectangular plate of asymmetrical size, which is set in motion by the muscles of the wings of the nose.
Features of the device of the internal nose
The nasal cavity is the beginning of the human respiratory tract. Its walls are formed by bones. It is located between the oral cavity, the anterior cranial fossa and the orbits. According to its anatomical features, the nasal cavity is divided into three sections:
- anticipation;
- respiratory area;
- olfactory area.
The nasal cavity consists of two identical halves, which are separated from each other by the nasal septum. It is very fragile, so many people have a curvature resulting from injury. Each half has four bony walls and three shells - lower, middle and upper.
The respiratory area is covered with a mucous membrane, consisting of special cells that secrete mucus. It acts as an antiseptic that has a detrimental effect on microbes. At the top of the respiratory section are mobile cilia that are responsible for expelling mucus with associated bacteria and dust.
The olfactory region is located at the top of the nose. It is lined with epithelial tissue, which contains receptors responsible for odor recognition. In total, the human nose is able to recognize about 10 thousand different aromas.
Anatomical features of the paranasal sinuses
The paranasal sinuses are voids surrounding the organ of smell. They are connected to the nose by channels and perform very important functions. Paranasal sinuses are divided into the following types:
- wedge;
- Highmore's;
- frontal
- cells of the lattice labyrinth.
The maxillary sinuses are the largest in volume. They perform many functions and play the most important role in our body. They help to reduce the mass of the skull, significantly improve the quality of odor recognition, help purify the inhaled air,form the timbre of the voice, improve the absorption of nasal drugs by the mucous membrane, reduce the negative impact on the eyes and teeth during strong temperature changes.
What disorders can occur in the cartilage of the nose
The cartilage of the nose can start to hurt for a variety of reasons, both as a result of injury and as complications from many serious diseases. The main part of the olfactory organ is the nasal septum, to which cartilages adjoin on both. Bones interlock with them in turn.
The main causes of pain can be:
- Septum injury.
- Fractured nasal bones.
- Soft tissue injury.
In order to prescribe the appropriate treatment, it is necessary to determine the cause behind the pain. Therefore, if you have nasal cartilage pain, it is recommended not to delay going to the hospital, as any delay can lead to many complications.
It is important to understand that the reasons can be not only internal, but also external. Let's take a closer look at each of them.
Internal Causes of Nose Pain
This group of causes includes bruises and injuries of the bone or cartilage tissue of the olfactory organ. With severe injuries, not only the displacement of the septum can occur, but also the destruction of cartilage, as well as damage to the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity. As for diseases, the cartilages of the nose (in Latin they sound like erit cartilage de naribus) can hurt if a person has inflammation of the mucous membrane, sinusitisor hemosinusitis, ganglionitis and many other diseases that occur in a latent form.
How to know if there is a problem
In most cases, pain in the nose is experienced by people suffering from hypertension, as well as those who have problems with the liver or any blood diseases. In this case, the pain may be accompanied by heavy bleeding, which is very difficult to stop. A similar problem may also be encountered by people who have previously had a nose injury that caused a displacement or curvature of the nasal septum or destruction of cartilage. It is impossible to determine the cause of pain on your own without the help of a qualified specialist.
Difficulties in diagnosing nasal cartilage injuries
When the cartilage of the nose breaks, hemorrhage occurs in the soft tissues, resulting in a hematoma. In order to prevent suppuration and avoid various negative consequences, it is necessary to help the injured person as soon as possible. In this case, the victim's body temperature rises sharply, there are very strong pain in the nose, and terrible migraines begin.
If no action is taken, the nasal septum will transform and the cartilage will break down. With heavy bleeding and the formation of a strong hematoma in a person, the nasal passage is completely or partially blocked, as a result of which his breathing ability is impaired.
With very severe injuries, the back wall of the nose can sink in, causing a change in the normal shapeolfactory organ, and any touch to it causes unbearable pain, which is quite difficult to endure.
Basic treatments
If the bruise was not too severe and did not lead to serious damage, in which the cartilage of the nasal septum (in Latin it is written erit cartilage de naribus) was not deformed or destroyed, then ice or a cold compress will help get rid of the pain. When bleeding from the nose, special swabs are inserted into the cavity, which contribute to faster blood clotting.
Open fractures are more serious, as infection can enter the bloodstream, causing the wound to fester and further infection of the blood. Such an inflammatory process extends not only to soft tissues, but also to bones and cartilage. Such injuries are considered among the most serious, so they should be treated as soon as possible in a hospital with a specialized specialist.
Severe pain can also occur if the cartilage of the nasal septum has been damaged. If the bone frame was not crushed during displacement, then the fragments are simply set in place. This procedure is very painful, so it is done under general anesthesia.
Pain during deformation of the bone frame caused by a displacement of the nasal septum
The lateral cartilage of the nose or septum can be painful due to abnormalities in the normal formation of the facial bones, which are usually accompanied by a deviated nasal septum.
In addition to severe migraines, a person may also experience the following symptoms:
- Permanent problems with the nose, in particular the occurrence on a regular basis of such diseases as rhinitis, frontal sinusitis and sinusitis. This is due to poor sputum output from the maxillary sinuses, as well as the possible presence of infection in the injured area.
- Difficulty breathing through the nose.
- The curvature of the nose to one side, because of which a person constantly snores in his sleep.
As practice shows, most people suffering from nose pain do not attach much importance to this problem. However, a violation of the normal functioning of the olfactory organ subsequently leads to various failures, as a result of which the protective functions of the body decrease, diseases of the cardiovascular system develop, the incidence of colds and viral ailments increases, and blood problems can also be observed. Therefore, if you notice that the cartilage of the wings of the nose began to hurt or changed its original shape, it is recommended not to self-medicate, but to immediately consult a doctor.
Basic Treatments for Deviated Septum
There are several methods to return the septum to its normal position, but surgery is the most effective.
In modern medicine, the following types of it are distinguished:
- septoplasty - restoration of the original position of the septal plate;
- lateral conchopexy - expansion of the nasal canals by bringing the shells closer to the scales of the frontal bone;
- cristotomy - removal of cartilage in the nose or bone ridge if they interfere with normalair permeability through the channels;
- vasotomy - removal of the cavernous tissue of the upper part of the nasal cavity, if it is filled with blood due to any disease;
- rhinoplasty - the cartilages of the nose are returned to their normal shape in order to make the appearance more aesthetic.
The most difficult type of surgery is septoplasty. Modern equipment allows you to perform operations in such a way that there are no scars on the skin. Damaged cartilage is removed from the bone skeleton, after which it is modeled and put in place. At the same time, this method of treatment is highly effective and allows not only to return the normal functioning of the olfactory organ, but also to make it more aesthetic. For example, if the cartilage at the tip of the nose has been displaced, then doctors will be able to return it to its original position. The rehabilitation period lasts about two weeks.
Ways to correct nose deformities
Rhinoplasty is one of the most common types of surgical intervention aimed at correcting any defects in the nose that are congenital or acquired as a result of injuries. It is also often used in plastic surgery to correct the shape of the olfactory organ.
Today, there are three ways to perform rhinoplasty:
- Open or American.
- Closed or European.
- Non-surgical.
The first two methods are based on surgical intervention, and their main difference isis only in what area the surgeon makes incisions. The non-surgical method involves injecting fat or hyaluronic acid under the skin, allowing surgeons to correct small defects in the nose. It is practically painless and has no negative consequences, so the patient is immediately allowed to go home after the operation.
Don't take your he alth lightly. If even a slight pain in the nose appears, you should undergo an examination and start treatment as soon as possible, since any delay can lead to very serious consequences. Remember, no amount of money can buy he alth.
