Why did humans evolve external noses that don鈥檛 seem to serve any useful purpose 鈥� our smelling sensors are inside the head. Our noses are vulnerable to damage and the majority of primates and other mammals manage with relatively flat faces. (Continued)
鈥� If we believe zoologist Desmond Morris, the shape of the human nose is one of many unique features of the human anatomy that lack obvious purpose, but that most probably exist to respond to stimulation in one way or another to facilitate sexual pair bonding.
鈥淭he shape of the human nose is one of many features of human anatomy with no purpose鈥�
Advertisement
In he writes: 鈥淥ne [anatomist] has referred to it as a mere 鈥榚xuberant variation of no functional significance鈥�. It is hard to believe that something so positive and distinctive in the way of primate appendages should have evolved without a function. When one reads that the side walls of the nose contain a spongy erectile tissue that leads to nasal enlargement and nostril expansion by vaso-congestion during sexual arousal, one begins to wonder.鈥�
In other words, apparently we have big noses to give our partners something else to notice or to play with.
Neil Fairweather, Risley, Cheshire, UK