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. Behind the nose are 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 and serves as an alternative respiratory passage especially during suckling for
infants. On most other
mammals, it is located on the upper tip of the
snout.