Parts of the Nose: Names and What They Do
You’re trying to describe your nose, or make sense of what a surgeon just said, and the only word you have is “bridge.” The parts of the nose have simple names, and once you know them, you can point to exactly what you mean.
Written by Mia Hartley6 min readUpdated
Run a finger from between your eyes down to the tip. Near the top, your nose feels firm and doesn’t move. Lower down, it gets softer and bends a little when you press.
That change from hard to soft is the easiest map of your nose there is. Every part below sits somewhere along it.
Six parts of the nose show on the outside: the root between your eyes, the bridge running down from it, the tip, the columella between your nostrils, the wings around each nostril, and the nostrils. Inside, the septum splits your nose in two. The top is bone, and the lower part is cartilage.
The 6 Parts You Can See
From top to bottom:
- Root: the top, between your eyes, just below your brows.
- Bridge: the raised line from the root down to the tip.
- Tip: where the bridge ends, usually the part that sticks out most.
- Columella: the narrow strip between your nostrils.
- Wings: the curved sides around each nostril, called alae by doctors.
- Nostrils: the two openings at the bottom.
Inside, a wall called the septum splits your nose into two air passages, one behind each nostril.
What Is the Top of the Nose Called?
It’s called the root. Many people call it the bridge too, and that mix-up causes more confusion than any other nose word.
In anatomy, the bridge is the line that runs down from the root to the tip. Doctors also call it the dorsum or the nasal ridge. When someone says a nose is straight or has a bump, that’s the line they mean.
The difference matters when you talk about changes. “A slimmer bridge” can mean a narrower top between your eyes or a smoother line down the middle. Those are 2 different changes, so say which one you mean.
What Is the Part Between Your Nostrils Called?
It’s the columella, the strip that separates your 2 nostrils. You’re most likely to hear the word from a surgeon, because it’s where an open nose job starts.
In an open nose job, the small cut goes across the columella. In a closed one, all the cuts stay inside the nose. If it comes up at a consultation, ask which one your surgeon plans.
The columella is cartilage covered by skin, which is why it bends a little when you pinch it gently.
What Is the Nose Made Of? Bone, Cartilage, and Skin
The top of your nose is bone, the lower part is cartilage, and skin covers both. The firm-to-soft change you feel when you run a finger down your nose is where the bone ends.
Here’s how the parts split across those 3 materials. The root and the upper bridge are bone. The lower bridge, the tip, the wings and the columella are cartilage. The septum inside is made of both.
Skin covers everything, and its thickness varies from person to person. That’s one reason two noses with a similar shape underneath can still look different.
Which Part Shapes What You See
Most things people notice come from one part. A bump comes from the bridge, a rounded tip from the tip, and a wide bottom from the wings and where they meet your cheeks.
Each one also has a best view. A bump shows from the side, while tip shape and width show from the front, so a front photo and a side photo tell you more than a mirror does.
How to Describe Your Nose to a Surgeon
Name 3 things: the part, the view, and the change. That tells a surgeon exactly where to look.
Without the words, it often comes out as “just… smaller,” followed by a lot of pointing. With them, it can sound like this: “From the side, I’d like a smoother bridge. From the front, a slightly narrower tip. I’m happy with my nostrils.”
Say what you want to keep, too. It rules out changes you don’t want and keeps the conversation on the part you came to talk about.
Where NoseChic Fits In
Before you say “a smoother bridge from the side” to anyone, it helps to know which part stands out on your face. NoseChic’s Nose Report rates the parts in this guide from one photo: Bridge width and Bridge smoothness for the bridge, Tip shape and Tip angle for the tip, Length from the top of your nose to the tip, and Symmetry for how evenly the sides line up.
Then turn the part, the view and the change into a picture. Slim Bridge shows a narrower bridge from the front, Greek a straighter bridge line from the side, and Defined Tip a more distinct tip. With a simulation on your phone, you can show a surgeon the change instead of describing it with your hands.
The ratings come from a photo, not from feeling the bone and cartilage underneath. So when you show the simulation, ask which of those parts the change would involve.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the parts of the nose and their functions?
The outside parts, from the root to the nostrils, give your nose its shape and lead air in. Inside, your nose warms and filters the air you breathe, and tiny hairlike structures called cilia trap dirt and particles. Your nose also gives you your sense of smell.
What is the inside of the nose called?
The space inside is the nasal cavity. A wall of bone and cartilage called the septum splits it into two air passages, one behind each nostril. Along the sides are folds called turbinates, which warm and moisten the air after you breathe it in.
What is the tip of the nose called?
It’s simply called the nasal tip. Anatomy references describe it as the point where the bridge meets the columella, the strip between your nostrils. Whether it points up or down is easiest to see from the side.
What if a surgeon uses a word I don’t know?
Ask them to point to it on your face or your photo. It’s a normal question, and it stops you from agreeing to a change you pictured differently. Two words you’re likely to hear are tip projection, how far your tip sticks out from your face, and tip rotation, how much it points up or down.
Sources and further reading
- Anatomy of the Nose (Elements of Morphology, National Human Genome Research Institute (NIH))
- Nose: Anatomy, Function and Related Conditions (Cleveland Clinic)
- Rhinoplasty Procedure Steps (American Society of Plastic Surgeons)
See your new nose in seconds
Download NoseChic, try nose job simulation on your own photo, and find the nose that feels right.
