Cow nose anatomy

Cow nose anatomy refers to the features of the nostrils and nasal cavity. It is the first and externally visible  part of the cow’s respiratory system.

Here, I will describe the cow’s nose anatomy with hand-drawn schematic diagrams and real pictures.

Quick answer: Cow nose anatomy includes the description of external nostrils and features of the concha and meatus of the nasal cavity.

Thus, this guide might help you learn about the details of a cow’s nose. However, I will help you to identify the structures from the cow’s nasal cavity that are essential for your practical study.

Where is the nose of a cow?

Figure 1 shows the hand-drawing schematic presentation of the external location of the cow’s nose.

The area where the external part of the nose is located is also known as the muzzle or planum nasolabialis. However, the muzzle continues with the upper lip of the mouth of a cow.

Location: The cow’s nose is located at the transverse level of the eyes to the rostral end of the mouth.  

Formation of the cow’s nose

Here, the cow’s nose is externally formed by the bones, muscles, cartilages, and skin (Figure 2). However, internally, it encloses the nasal cavity, which is lined with mucous membrane.

The dorsal part of the cow’s nose is formed by the frontal and nasal bones of the skull. Here, this part of the nose is also termed the dorsum nasi in cows.

Again, the lateral part of the nose is formed by the incisive, maxilla, lacrimal, and zygomatic bones. However, these bones are externally covered by the facial muscles of the cow’s muscular system.

Finally, the muscles external to the cow’s nose are covered externally by the skin. Here, the skin bears the fine hairs except at the tip of the nose, which is formed by the nostrils.

Cow nose anatomy

Figure 3 presents an overview of the anatomical features of the cow’s nose and nasal cavity.

Here, the rostral end of the nose is formed by the bilateral comma-shaped oblique openings. These are the anterior nares or nostrils, which provide entrance to the nasal cavity.

Here, the nasal cavity is an irregular passage within the nose that divides into two parts by the nasal septum. The structures of the nostrils support and protect the nasal cavity.

Again, the bilateral nostrils are supported by various cartilages on which the shape and size of the nose depend. Here, these cartilages are the dorsal and ventral extensions of the cartilages of the nasal septum.

According to the figure, the cow’s nasal cavity is characterized by the bones (conchae) and meatus.

Thus, for a complete anatomy of the cow’s nose, you need to describe the following –

• Nostrils: Appearances of the right and left nostrils along with their cartilages, and
• Nasal cavity: Formation of the nasal cavity along its conchae and meatus.

Nostrils of the cow’s nose

Figure 4 presents the right and left nostrils of the cow’s nose. I made this figure of the cow’s nose using a hand-drawn schematic diagram and real pictures.

• Location of the cow’s nostrils: These nostrils are placed obliquely dorsoventral, one on each side of the muzzle (planum nasolabialis).

• Shape of the cow’s nostril: They are small, narrow, and slightly detachable structures. Both nostrils are somewhat oval or comma-shaped in the cow.

However, the nostrils are closer together ventrally and slightly wider apart dorsally. This is due to the oblique position of the right and left nostrils.

The lateral and medial alae or wings bound both right and left nostrils of the cow. Here, these wings meet above and below to form the dorsal and ventral commissures, respectively.

However, the dorsal commissure is narrow, whereas the ventral commissure is wide and round. Again, each nostril of the cow consists of cartilage, muscles, and skin.  

What are the main cartilages of the cow’s nose?

Figure 5 shows the hand-drawn schematic presentation/diagram of the cartilages of the cow’s nose. It shows that the alar and parietal cartilages form the basis of the cow’s nostrils.

Here, the alar cartilage of the nostril has different structures with identifying features. However, the parietal cartilages are two in number: dorsal and ventral.

Alar cartilage of the nostril

Figure 5 also shows that the alar cartilage of the cow’s nostril has an oblong plate-like structure. It is the lamina that forms the dorsal wall of the cartilage.

However, this cartilage also shows a narrow rod-shaped structure. It is the cornu of the cartilage that forms its lateral wall.

• Lamina: The lamina of the alar cartilage attaches to the rostral end of the dorsal partial cartilage. Here, the lamina curves downward and outwards.

However, the medial borders of the lamina of each alar cartilage are connected by fibrous tissue.

• Cornu: The cornu of the alar cartilage starts from the lateral part of the lamina. However, it curves outwards and upwards into the external wing.

It widens and bears a transverse cartilage bar at its termination. Now, the cornu, along with this transverse bar, looks like an anchor.

Partial cartilages of the nostrils

Here, the dorsal and ventral partial cartilages are connected by the fibrous tissue. However, they fill the space in the nasoincisive notch.

• Dorsal partial cartilage: It is thin and curved outwards and downwards from the rostral border of the nasal septum.
• Ventral partial cartilage: It lies along the nasal process of the incisive bone. However, its rostral part curves upward and joins the cartilaginous part of the caudal turbinate bone.

Muscles and skin of the cow’s nostrils

The muscles of the cow’s nostrils are –

• Dilatator narris apicalis and lateralis muscles,
• Depressor labii superioris and inferioris muscles, and
• Levator nasolabialis muscle,

All these muscles cover the cartilage of the cow’s nostril. However, the skin around these muscles is smooth, moist, and keratinized.

Nasal cavity of the cow

Figure 6 presents a hollow space within the nose anatomy of a cow. It is the cow’s nasal cavity and is occupied by the turbinate bones/conchae and meatus.

Extension: The cow’s nasal cavity extends from the anterior nares to the posterior nares at the level of the nasopharynx. However, the nasopharynx is the part of the nasal part of the cow’s pharynx.

From the cow’s nasal cavity, you might mention the following features:

• The boundary of the cow’s nasal cavity,
• Nasal septum of the cow’s nose
• Features of the turbinate bones/conchae, and
• Features of the nasal meatus,

The boundary of the nasal cavity

Figure 7 highlights the boundary of the cow’s nasal cavity. Here, the roof, floor, and two lateral walls of the nasal cavity are mainly formed by various bones of the cow’s skull.

• Roof: The roof of the cow’s nasal cavity is formed by the nasal and the part of the frontal bones. However, the dorsal parietal cartilage also contributes to forming the roof of the nasal cavity.
• Floor: It is formed by the parts of the incisive, maxilla, and palatine bones of the skull. However, the ventral parietal cartilage of the nostril also contributes to forming the floor.
• Lateral walls: They are formed by the parts of the incisive, maxilla, palatine, ethmoid, and lacrimal bones. However, both the dorsal and ventral cartilages of the cow’s nostril also form the lateral walls.

Here, the rostral osseous boundary of the nasal cavity is demarcated by the rostral edge of the body of the incisive bone. However, its caudal boundary is formed by the cribriform plate of the cow’s ethmoid bone. 

Nasal septum in the cow’s nose

The nasal septum is a membrane that divides the cow’s nasal cavity into the right and left halves. It is median in position in the nose and formed partly by osseous and partly by the cartilaginous plates (Figure 8).

Osseous part: It is the caudal and ventral part of the nasal septum. However, it is formed by the perpendicular part of the ethmoid and vomer bones.

Cartilaginous part: The rostral and dorsal part of the nasal septum is cartilaginous. However, this part is composed of hyaline cartilage.

Borders: The dorsal border of the nasal septum is attached to the nasal and frontal bones. Again, the ventral border of it is attached to the groove formed by the vomer bone.

Nasal conchae of the cow

The osseous and cartilagenious part of the cow’s nasal cavity, including the septum, is lined with mucous membrane. However, most of the cavity is occupied by the following conchae –

• Dorsal nasal concha: Dorsal part of the turbinate bone.
• Ventral nasal concha: Ventral part of the turbinate bone.

These are actually the scrolls of the cow’s turbinate bone that projects into the cavity from the lateral wall. Here, Figure 9 highlights the concha from the cow’s nasal cavity.

They support the olfactory mucous membrane and increase the respiratory surface area. However, they help to filter and cool or warm the air passing through it.

The figure also shows that the dorsal and ventral nasal conchae occupy the rostral part of the nasal cavity. Again, the caudal part of the nasal cavity is filled with the ethmoidal/ethmoturbinate concha. It is also known as the middle nasal concha (Figure 9).

Meatuses of the cow’s nasal cavity anatomy

The conchae divide the cow’s nasal cavity into different meatuses. Here, Figure 10 presents the common, dorsal, middle, and ventral meatuses within the cow’s nasal cavity.

Common meatus: There is a longitudinal space between the nasal septum and the turbinate bones on either side. This space is known as the common meatus of the cow’s nasal cavity.

Actually, the dorsal, middle, and ventral nasal meatuses branch from the common meatus.

• Dorsal nasal meatus: It is the space between the roof of the nasal cavity and the dorsal concha.
• Ventral nasal meatus: It is the space between the ventral concha and the floor of the nasal cavity.
• Middle nasal meatus: The middle meatus is the space between the dorsal and ventral meatus.

Here, the middle meatus is divided into two parts caudally due to the presence of ethmoturbinate bone. The upper part communicates with the frontal sinus, whereas the lower part communicates with the maxillary sinus.

The mucous membrane of the cow’s nasal cavity, conchae, and septum is closely attached to the periosteum and perichondrium. However, it continues with the following organs or structures –

• Conjunctive: Through the nasolacrimal duct of the cow’s eye,
• Paranasal sinuses: By their opening, and
• Pharynx: Through the concha.

Choanae: Here, the choanae means the caudal nares of the cow’s nasal cavity. However, the anterior or rostral nares are known as the nostrils of the cow’s nose.

What is the vomeronasal organ in a cow’s nose?

The cow’s vomeronasal organ/organ of Jacobson is a small tube of cartilage. It lies along the ventral border of the nasal septum in its rostral third.

There are two in number in the cow’s nose, which possess a blind and an open end. However, they open into the mouth on either side of the papilla incisiva, along with the incisive ducts.

FAQ’s on the cow’s nose anatomy

Conclusion

So, the cow nose anatomy describes the features of the nostril, the nasal cavity, along with the concha, and the meatus. Here, the anterior opening of the cow’s nose is the rostral nares or nostril.

However, the nasal cavity extends from the nostril to the choanae (posterior nares). The nasal conchae, meatus, nasal septum, and vomeronasal organs are the key identifying features of the cow’s nasal cavity.   

References

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