What a marvelous creation the human body is, designed by our Creator who makes no mistakes. Let’s look at the importance of the nose, mouth and throat in the life of each of us, for it is through them that necessary air for our lungs and food for our stomachs reach the vital parts of our bodies.
The nose certainly is easy to see, but it is much more complex than it appears, for it is made up of a combination of parts working together. Its main purpose is to warm and cleanse the air we breathe, but it also has other functions, including the sense of smell and enhancing the sense of taste.
Air enters the nose through two openings called nostrils. The soft inner linings of the nostrils, like the rest of the airway, contain many small glands which secrete mucus onto the surface. This surface is also covered with tiny hairs called cilia. These are extremely important since their job is to filter incoming air, trapping dust, bacteria and other impurities that would be harmful to our lungs. These tiny hairs wave back and forth constantly, moving the trapped impurities on down to the throat and then to the stomach, which knows how to dispose of them.
Helping the cilia do their work are four groups of sinuses. Some of these are located above the nose and secrete small amounts of mucus into the nostrils to moisten them and aid in the filtering process. Part of this moisture from the mucus is added to the air we inhale as it is warmed in the nose, so it will be just right for the lungs. Other sinuses located above and beside the nose also assist in this task.
Of course, there are times when a cold virus or allergies make it difficult to breathe through the nose, and then we have to breathe through the mouth. This is a wonderful provision of the Creator, for otherwise we couldn’t get enough air under such conditions to keep us alive. However, breathing through the nose best prepares the air for the lungs.
As our opening verse says, the very first breath that gave life to Adam was breathed into his nostrils by the Lord God. This was not true of any other creature, and mankind has always had a special place in God’s thoughts.
When God reads your heart, does He find that you have special thoughts toward Him too? He has done so much for you in providing His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to be your Saviour if you will only trust in Him. Your thoughts should be of true thankfulness and acceptance of His wondrous gift of salvation.
(to be continued)
ML-05/06/2001