Understanding the Anatomy of Nosebleeds, and What Happens When We Pick Our Noses

Nose-picking is a common habit, and whether you admit it or not, most of us have done it at some point in our lives. But have you ever wondered what really happens inside your nose when you engage in this activity? Today, we'll delve into the science behind nose-picking and its potential consequences.

Rubbing our skin with our other hands or scratching without any form of injury is common, but doing the same with your nose would give a different result. The nasal cavity is covered with cartilaginous tissues which we refer to as the nose and that cartilage is known as Hyaline cartilage. Hyaline cartilage is found pretty around the body such as joints, as it is good at reducing friction. The nose breaths in lots of air as well as breath out a lot, and friction would occur in this place so cartilage would be a good option compared to bone.

If the nose is made up of cartilage, then what do we break when with are hit with serious force. The nasal septum is what gets that break, as the septum is the bony tissue as well as a cartilaginous tissue that divides the nose. The frontal part of the septum is cartilaginous, while the inner part is made of bony tissue, and when there is a great force, the bony tissue of the septum gets broken. A broken nose could also be attributed to the nasal bones which come off from the frontal bone and holds the cartilage in the nose. If the nasal bone is also broken, the person has a broken nose.^,

In the nose, there are other structures beneath the nasal septum such as the Inferior nasal Concha, Middle nasal Concha, and Superior nasal concha which are the bony structures that curve and increase the surface area in the nasal cavity allowing more air in. These bony structures are wrapped in mucosal, epithelial tissues. Below the inferior concha is the inferior meatus, above it is the middle meatus, as well as the superior meatus is above the superior concha, and they are passageways for air to move through reaching your nasal pharynx and then to the respiratory tract.

When people pick their nose, they are trying to remove boogers which are products of the mucosal membranes after it has been able to catch dirt, and pathogens. To understand nosebleeds, we need to understand that the internal part of the nasal cavity is composed of mucosal tissues and membranes which are made up of superficial blood vessels to warm up the air taken into the body thereby preventing the freezing of the respiratory tract and the lungs.

Just as it is in the nasal cavity, the superficial blood vessels are also found in the Keisselbach's plexus (little's area) and this is where about 90% of nosebleeds occur in. Nosebleed also known as Epistaxis can occur anteriorly or posteriorly. If there is a nosebleed anywhere in the nasal cavity aside from the Keisselbach's plexus (little's area) which is the anterior area of the nasal cavity, then it is referred to as a posterior epistaxis. Nose bleeding could also occur as a result of dry nose trauma causing the vessel to break, or medications causing the mucosal membrane to dry out. ^{, ,}

Posterior epistaxis is not common compared to anterior epistaxis, and it is more dangerous compared to the anterior one. Blood can pour back the throat which would be swallowed. Actually, even with anterior epistaxis, blood can flow to the throat if the person lays back and that is why people are advise to lean forward. Compressing the nosetrils via pinching is a way to stop anterior nosebleed, but with posterior nosebleed, the person is advised to lean forward and a doctor should be consulted if the bleeding doesn't stop.

So, the next time you're tempted to pick your nose, remember the intricate anatomy of this seemingly simple act and the potential consequences it can have on your nasal health.

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Image 1 || Flickr || Nose Bleed

Image 2 || Wikimedia Commons || Blausen 0015 AllergicRhinitis