Outer nose. Structure, functions

The external nose , nasus externus, is the initial part of the respiratory system . It occupies on the face the area of ​​the nose , regio nasalis, and in shape resembles a triangular pyramid.

The posterior surface of the pyramid is absent and the cavity of the external nose is part of the nasal cavity, cavitas nasi. The other two facets of the pyramid, covered with skin, actually represent the outer nose. It distinguishes the back of the nose, dorsum nasi, - the narrow convex part of the outer nose that extends from the root of the nose, radix nasi, to the apex of the nose, apex nasi, and the wings of the nose, alae nasi.

The back of the nose is formed by nasal bones , lateral cartilage of the nose and cartilage of the septum of the nose, and the wings of the nose - large and small cartilages of wings.

The lateral cartilage of the nose, cartilago nasi lateralis, paired, has the shape of an irregular triangle, takes part in the formation of the back and partly the wing of the nose. Posterior margin lateral cartilage is to the anterior edge of the nasal bone, internal in the upper parts - to the edge of the same cartilage of the opposite side, with which it can fuse, and in the lower sections - to the plate of the cartilage of the septum of the nose; The lower edge of the lateral cartilage extends to the lateral leg of the large cartilage of the wing.

Large cartilage of the wing, cartilago alaris major, paired, along with the cartilage of the opposite side with the same name, surrounds the sides, in front and from the inside, the entrance to the nasal cavity - the nares, nares. In the large cartilage, the medial and lateral legs are distinguished.

The medial legs, crus mediale, of both large cartilages separate the nostrils from one another, and between them the front edge of the cartilage of the septum of the nose is wedged.

Lateral leg, crus laterale, large cartilage of the wing of the nose wider and longer than the medial, convex and is a cartilaginous skeleton of the wing of the nose.

To the lateral leg are joined 2-3 small cartilages of wings, cartilagines alares minores, which lie in the posterior parts of the nose wing.

In the area between the lateral pedicle and the lateral cartilage, there are sometimes several different sizes of additional nasal cartilages, cartilagines nasales accessoriae.

The cartilages of the nose are covered with perichondrium, perichondrium, and connect with each other as well as with adjacent bones fibrous tissue.

You will be interested to read this:

• Respiratory system
• The nasal cavity
• Larynx
• Cartilage of larynx