Between the nose bridge and glabella (region between eyebrows), the nose is attached superiorly to the forehead via the root, with the nasion being the indentation at the frontonasal suture where the frontal and nasal bones meet. The nasal ridge (dorsum) runs from the root to the tip of the nose. The ala (wings) are cartilaginous and flares inferolaterally to wrap around the nares (nostrils). Continue reading External nose

The conchae are large, medially-directed bony elements projecting from the lateral walls into the cavity. Covered by highly vascular mucous membranes, they increase the surface area of the nasal cavity to heat and humidify air during breathing. Beneath each shelf-like concha is a meatus into which the paranasal sinuses open. Continue reading Nasal conchae & meatuses

Several different nerves supply or run enter the nose: The olfactory nerve is a collection of fibres receptor cell axons in the olfactory mucous membrane and pass through openings in the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone. General sensation is mediated by branches of the ophthalmic and maxillary nerves (divisions of CN V). Parasympathetic secretomotor supply to the mucous glands is mediated by postganglionic fibres … Continue reading Nose nerves

The paranasal sinuses are four sets of cavities situated around and connected to the nose. Lined by ciliated columnar epithelium, they help produce mucous (when stimulated by parasympathetic innervation) for the nasal cavity with which they are connected. They also likely function to lighten the skull and act as resonance chambers for speech. Each sinus is innervated by CN V and named by the bone it … Continue reading Paranasal sinuses

The nasal cavity receives blood from three sources: Sphenopalatine and greater palatine arteries, branches of the maxillary artery Anterior and posterior ethmoidal arteries, branches of the ophthalmic artery Superior labial artery, branch of the facial artery CLINICAL CORNER Little’s area is a site of anastomoses between the nasal arteries. Nosebleed commonly occurs here due to drying out and fingernail trauma. Veins follow the course of … Continue reading Nose blood vessels