On a skull, why is there no bone where the nose is supposed to be?

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Your skull is the bony framework of your head. It has a triangular hole where your nose sits. At the peak of that hole are two small bones, called nasal bones, supporting the top of the nose. The rest of the nose is made of cartilage, a springy tissue comprising cells that contain a blood supply, says Dr. Michael Stewart at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York. Unlike the rock-hard bones that make up a skull, soft cartilage breaks down after a person dies. As a result, skeletons appear to be without noses.

Why is our nose made of cartilage in the first place? Some experts think the springy nose structure may protect the face, like a car's bumper. Question from Erica S., Windsor, CA

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