NPSV= noninvasive pressure support ventilation
Studies employing noninvasive pressure support ventilation in cardiogenic
pulmonary edema have been performed in the intensive care unit when overt
respiratory failure is already present and in small groups of patients. In this
multicenter study, performed in emergency departments, 130 patients with acute
respiratory failure were randomized to receive medical therapy plus O2 (65
patients) or noninvasive pressure support ventilation (65 patients).
NPSV=Nasal pressure support ventilation
Comparison of nasal pressure support ventilation with nasal intermittent
positive pressure ventilation in patients with nocturnal hypoventilation.
Anatomically, a nose is a protuberance in vertebrates that houses the
nostrils, or nares, which admit and expel air for respiration in conjunction
with the mouth.
In most animals, it also has the nosehairs, which catch air-borne particles and
prevent them from reaching the lungs. Within and behind the nose is the
olfactory mucosa and the sinuses. Behind the nasal cavity, air next passes
through the pharynx, shared with the digestive system, and then into the rest of
the respiratory system. In humans, the nose is located centrally on the face; on
most other mammals, it is on the upper tip of the snout.
As an interface between the body and the external world, the nose and associated
structures frequently perform additional functions concerned with conditioning
entering air (for instance, by warming and/or humidifying it, also for flicking
if moving and by mostly reclaiming moisture from the air before it is exhaled
(as occurs most efficiently in camels).
In most fish, the nose is the primary large organ for smelling. As the animal
sniffs, the air flows through the nose and over structures called turbinates in
the nasal cavity. The turbulence caused by this disruption slows the air and
directs it toward the olfactory epithelium. At the surface of the olfactory
epithelium, odor molecules carried by the air contact olfactory receptor neurons
which transduce the features of the molecule into non painful electrical
impulses in the brain.
In cetaceans, the nose has been reduced to the nostrils, which have migrated to
the top of the head, producing a more streamlined body shape and the ability to
breathe while mostly submerged. Conversely, the elephant's nose has become
elaborated into a long, muscular, manipulative organ called the trunk
The visible part of the human nose is the protruding part of the face that bears
the nostrils. The shape of the nose is determined by the ethmoid bone and the
nasal septum, which consists mostly of cartilage and which separates the
nostrils. Generally the nose of a male is larger than that of a female.
The nose has an area of specialised cells which are responsible for smelling
(part of the olfactory system). Another function of the nose is the conditioning
of inhaled air, warming it and making it more humid. Hairs inside the nose
prevent large particles from entering the lungs. Sneezing is usually caused by
foreign particles irritating the nasal mucosa, but can more rarely be caused by
sudden exposure to bright light (called the photic sneeze reflex) or touching
the external auditory canal. Sneezing is a means of transmitting infections
because it creates aerosols in which the droplets can harbour microbes.
[ Related medical conditions
One of the most common medical conditions involving the nose are nosebleeds (in
medicine: epistaxis). Most of them occur in Kiesselbach's area (synonym:
Little's area). Nasal congestion is a common symptom of infections or other
inflammations of the nasal lining (rhinitis), such as in allergic rhinitis or
vasomotor rhinitis (resulting from nasal spray abuse). Most of these conditions
also cause anosmia, which is the medical term for a loss of smell. This may also
occur in other conditions, for example following trauma, in Kallmann syndrome or
Parkinson's disease.
Nose-picking is a common, mildly taboo habit. Medical risks include the spread
of infections, nosebleeds and rarely self-induced perforation of the nasal
septum. Nose fetishism (or nasophilia) is the sexual fetish (or paraphilia) for
the nose. The psychiatric condition of extreme nose picking is termed
rhinotillexomania.
Trauma of the nose (for example, during vaginal delivery) can result in a nasal
fracture or nasal septum deviation. The nose is a common site of foreign bodies.
The nose is susceptible to frostbite. Nasal flaring is a sign of respiratory
distress that involves widening of the nostrils on inspiration.
Because of the special nature of the blood supply to the human nose and
surrounding area, it is possible for retrograde infections from the nasal area
to spread to the brain. For this reason, the area from the corners of the mouth
to the bridge of the nose, including the nose and maxilla, is known to doctors
as the danger triangle of the face.
A rhinoplasty is the medical term in plastic surgery for esthetic surgery of the
nose (also known as a 'nose job').
Specific systemic diseases, infections or other conditions that may result in
destruction of part of the nose (for example, the nasal bridge, or nasal septal
perforation) are rhinophyma, skin cancer (for example, basal cell carcinoma),
Wegener's granulomatosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis,
tuberculosis, syphillis, leprosy and exposure to cocaine, chromium or toxins.
The nose may be stimulated to grow in acromegaly.
Samter's triad is the simultaneous occurrence in a patient of asthma, nasal
polyps and aspirin sensitivity.
[ Shapes of the human nose
The factual accuracy of part of this article is disputed.
The dispute is about Nasology, over stereotype problems .
Please see the relevant discussion on the talk page before making changes.(March
2008)
Human noses can take many different shapes. Several attempts have been made
towards a classification of noses. The following examples are from Nasology by
Eden Warwick (pseudonym of George Jabet). This 19th century tract associated
nose shapes with character traits in a way akin to phrenology, in a somewhat
ironic way, as the booklet was intended to mock the popular but highly
controversial subject of phrenology.
* Class I: The Roman, or Aquiline nose, which is rather convex, but undulating
as its name aquiline imports.
* Class II: The Greek or Straight nose, which is perfectly straight
* Class III: The Nubian, or Wide-nostrilled nose, wide at the end, thick and
broad, gradually widening from below the bridge. The other noses are seen in
profile, but this one in full face.
* Class IV: The Hawk nose, which is very convex, and preserves its convexity
like a bow. It is thin and sharp.
* Class V: The Snub nose
* Class VI: The Turn-up or Celestial nose, with a continuous concavity from the
eyes to the tip
[ Culture
Some people choose to get rhinoplasty to change the aesthetic appearance of
their nose. Nose piercings are also common, such as nostril, septum or bridge.
In New Zealand, nose pressing ("hongi") is a traditional greeting amongst Maori
people. However it is now generally confined to certain traditional
celebrations.
[ Famous noses
Fictional characters
* Gonzo the Great in the Muppets
* Erik, From "Phantom of the Opera" by Gaston Leroux, did not have a nose at
all.
* Pinocchio, whose nose grew whenever he told a lie.
* Severus Snape in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series
* Major Kovalyov in Nikolai Gogol's novel The Nose.
* Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown (1974) by Roman Polanski
Historical persons
* Socrates had a snub nose which contributed to his perception, including
self-perception, as ugly.
* Cleopatra
* Duke of Wellington - The first Duke of Wellington was so renowned for his
large hooked nose that his troops gave him the nickname of 'Nosey'.
* Cyrano de Bergerac
* Tycho Brahe lost his nose in a duel and wore a prosthetic nose made of gold
and silver
Actors and other celebrities
* John Barrymore known as "The Great Profile"
* Adrien Brody
* Jimmy Durante. Cartoonist Al Hirschfeld questioned the size of Durante's nose.
In The World of Hirschfeld (1966) he illustrated the point by taking a picture
of Durante and adding white hair, a cigar, and a few other features, and leaving
the nose untouched--and he came up with an uncanny likeness of former governor
of New York, Alfred E. Smith.
* W.C. Fields
* Jennifer Grey
* Michael Jackson known for having multiple plastic surgeries on his nose .
* Barry Manilow known for his large nose, often parodied ,
* Pete Townshend, of the Who, has a famously large nose. His band-mate Roger
Daltrey described him as a 'nose on a stick' .
* Owen Wilson
[ Record Breaking Noses
* According to the Guinness Book of Records 2008, the largest nose belonged to
Oliver Bahr Shermacher, born 6th of July 1995, with a complete nose surface area
of 48.94cm squared. He took the record from Dillan Thompson, with a complete
nose surface area of 44.16cm squared.
Contact Information
Call our office today to set up an appointment. Learn more about how
we can help you, and learn more about the
other services that we can offer you. All messages we receive will be
answered as soon as possible. We look forward to hearing from you.
- Electronic mail
- General Information:
