Dominic Stone
The human nose contains muscles that form a distinct subgroup within the muscles of facial expression. One such muscle is the nasalis muscle, which is a paired muscle that covers the dorsum of the nose. It is composed of two parts: the transverse section and the alar portion. The transverse section merges with the procerus at the bridge of the nose and sits on the cartilaginous part of the nose. The alar part of the nasalis draws the nares and posterior part of the columella down and laterally, widening the nares and elongating the nose. These muscles are thin and difficult to visualize, but their preservation is vital to nasal function and appearance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the muscle | Nasalis |
| Parts of the muscle | Transverse, Alar |
| Nasalis muscle covers | Dorsum of the nose |
| Nasalis muscle dilates | Nostrils |
| Nasalis muscle depresses | Ala nasi (nostril wings) |
| Nasalis muscle wrinkles | Nasal skin |
| Nasalis muscle is used to test | Zygomatic branches |
| Nasalis muscle is innervated by | Buccal branch of facial nerve (CN VII) |
| Nasalis muscle blood supply | Superior labial, septal, lateral nasal branches of the facial artery, and the infraorbital branch of the maxillary artery |
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What You'll Learn
Nasalis muscle
The nose certainly has muscles, and the nasalis muscle is the largest of these. It is a muscle of facial expression and is paired, with one on each side of the midline. The nasalis muscle is comprised of two parts: the transverse and the alar. The transverse part merges with the procerus at the bridge of the nose and sits on the cartilaginous part of the nose. As the transverse muscle extends down the sides of the nose, it attaches to the maxilla just above the lateral incisive fossa. The transverse part is responsible for compressing the nasal aperture and wrinkling the nasal skin, hence its other name, compressor naris. It is also responsible for the expression made in the face of a bad smell, often referred to as "bunny lines".
The alar part of the nasalis draws the nares and posterior part of the columella down and out, resulting in widened nares and an elongated nose. This part is also called dilator naris posterior. The alar part comprises the nostrils and originates from the frontal process of the maxilla, just above the lateral incisor. It attaches to the alar cartilage of the nasal skeleton. When the alar portion of the nasalis is treated with BoNT-A, it can slim the flare of the alar.
The nasalis muscle is innervated by the buccal branch of the facial nerve (CN VII). It is superficial to the nasal bone and lateral nasal cartilage, covered by the nasal skin. The facial nerve can be tested by recording signals from the nasalis muscle, which usually produces a predominantly monophasic waveform.
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Facial expressions
The human nose has muscles that are thin and difficult to visualise. These muscles are vital to both nasal function and appearance. The nasalis muscle, for instance, is a paired muscle that covers the dorsum of the nose. It consists of two parts: the alar and the transverse. The alar part is also called the dilator naris posterior, while the transverse part is known as the compressor naris. The transverse part of the nasalis muscle merges with the procerus at the bridge of the nose and sits on the cartilaginous part of the nose. As the transverse muscle extends down the sides of the nose, it attaches to the maxilla just above the lateral incisive fossa. The transverse part is responsible for compressing the nasal aperture and producing the expression made when smelling something unpleasant. This action can also result in “bunny lines”, or nasal scrunch, which can be accentuated by speech, smiling, or frowning.
The alar part of the nasalis draws the nares and posterior part of the columella down and laterally, resulting in widened nares and an elongated nose. The alar portion also dilates the nostrils as it pulls the ala laterally, and this action can be emphasised in various emotionally driven situations, such as anger. The nasalis muscle, along with the procerus, levator labii superioris alaeque nasi, and depressor septi muscles, belong to the nasal group of facial muscles. The nasalis muscle is innervated by the buccal branch of the facial nerve (CN VII) and receives blood supply from the superior labial, septal, and lateral nasal branches of the facial artery, as well as the infraorbital branch of the maxillary artery.
The levator labii superioris is another muscle that resides along the side of the nose and is important for smiling. The LLSAN pulls the upper lip up to display teeth, and in some cases, the gums as well. The lip elevator muscles in the treatment area are the Zygomaticus major and Zygomaticus minor. The levator labii superioris sits anterior to the Zygomaticus minor.
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Rhinoplasty
The nose is enveloped by muscle, soft tissue, and skin. Rhinoplasty, commonly referred to as a "nose job", is a surgical procedure that can be used to reshape or reconstruct the nose. Rhinoplasty can be performed to improve both the look and the function of the nose. It can be used to correct a nose that looks bulbous, upturned, hooked, or droopy, to fix nostrils that are too wide or too small, to get rid of noticeable bumps on the bridge of the nose, and to open blocked nasal passages. Rhinoplasty can also be used to repair damage caused by sporting injuries or accidents.
There are two main types of rhinoplasty procedures: open and closed. Open rhinoplasty is a procedure for major nose reshaping, where the skin of the nose is completely separated from the bone and cartilage, allowing the surgeon to clearly see the underlying anatomy. Closed rhinoplasty, on the other hand, is a minor nose reshaping procedure where incisions are made on the inside of the nostrils. Rhinoplasty can be performed in a surgeon's office-based surgical facility, an outpatient surgery center, or a hospital. It is typically an outpatient procedure, meaning patients can go home the same day.
Before the surgery, the surgeon will conduct a thorough examination and assess whether the reconstruction will require harvesting the patient's own tissue, such as skin or cartilage. During the procedure, the surgeon will make incisions and raise the skin covering the nasal bones and cartilage. They may then reduce, add to, or rearrange the underlying bone and cartilage to create a new shape. In some cases, dermal fillers may be used instead of surgery to define the contours of the nose and provide immediate results with minimal downtime. However, these results are not permanent and must be repeated periodically.
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Facial nerves
The human nose does have muscles. One such muscle is the nasalis muscle, which is responsible for the wrinkling of the nose, sometimes referred to as "bunny lines".
Now, onto facial nerves. Facial nerves, or cranial nerve 7 (CN VII), are the seventh set of 12 cranial nerve pairs in the nervous system. They are responsible for controlling several muscles in the face, such as those that help us smile, frown, wrinkle our nose and raise our eyebrows. They also have sensory and parasympathetic functions. Facial nerves are involved in forming facial expressions, communicating orally, tasting, and tear production.
The facial nerve has five main branches, each controlling different muscles of facial expression:
- Frontal (temporal): Controls the forehead muscles.
- Zygomatic: Assists in closing the eyes.
- Buccal: Enables movement of the nose, blinking, raising the upper lip, and lifting the corners of the mouth to form a smile.
- Marginal mandibular: Lowers the lower lip, similar to a frown. It also travels through the middle ear to the stapedius muscle, aiding the inner ear in responding to loud noises.
- Cervical: Allows movement in the chin and the lower corners of the mouth by controlling the platysma muscle in the neck.
Damage to the facial nerve can result in specific movement or sensory issues, depending on which nerve fibres are affected. Conditions such as autoimmune diseases, salivary gland cancer, ear infections, facial surgery, head trauma, and Lyme disease can all impact the facial nerve. When the motor functions of the facial nerve are impaired, it is often referred to as facial nerve palsy, or paralysis.
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Blood supply to the nasalis
The nose receives an abundant blood supply, which is essential for its physiological functions, including warming and humidifying inhaled air, as well as immune defence. The blood supply to the nose comes from both the internal and external carotid artery systems. The external carotid artery supplies the nose with the sphenopalatine, greater palatine, superior labial, angular, and lateral nasal arteries. The sphenopalatine artery, a branch of the maxillary artery, provides blood to the posterior and inferior parts of the nasal cavity, including the middle and inferior turbinates. The greater palatine artery supplies blood to the nasal floor and posterior septum. The superior labial artery, a branch of the facial artery, supplies the anterior septum, while the angular artery, a continuation of the facial artery, supplies the superomedial aspect of the nose and parts of the external nose.
The internal carotid artery provides blood to the anterior and posterior ethmoidal arteries, which supply the apex of the nasal cavity and the surrounding areas of the external nose. The anterior ethmoidal artery supplies blood to the superior nasal septum and lateral nasal wall, including parts of the superior and middle turbinates. The blood supply to the nasal cavity is complex, with the carotid system being the ultimate source of blood flow. The anterior lateral nasal artery traverses the nasal alar soft tissue and perfuses the anterior aspect of the lateral nasal wall. The posterior lateral nasal artery, a branch of the sphenopalatine artery, supplies the posterior aspect of the lateral nasal wall.
The inferior turbinate, which plays a role in warming and humidifying air and regulating nasal airflow, receives its blood supply from the anterior and posterior lateral nasal arteries. The anterior lateral nasal artery also supplies blood to the nasal tip and can be used to raise flaps for reconstructing nasal defects. The posterior lateral nasal artery, which supplies the posterior aspect of the lateral nasal wall, is associated with a risk of posterior epistaxis, particularly when the venous drainage of Woodruff's plexus in the posterolateral nasal cavity is disrupted.
The nasal septum receives blood from the sphenopalatine, anterior and posterior ethmoid arteries, the superior labial artery (anteriorly), and the greater palatine artery (posteriorly). The Kiesselbach plexus, or Little area, is a region in the anteroinferior third of the nasal septum where the three main blood supplies to the internal nose converge. This area is particularly susceptible to nosebleeds.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the nose has muscles. The nasalis muscle is a thin muscle that covers the nose and is used to test the facial nerve.
The nasalis muscle dilates the nostrils, pulls down the ala nasi (nostril wings) and wrinkles the nasal skin. This enables the flaring of nostrils during breathing and is also emphasised in emotionally driven situations.
The nasalis muscle consists of two parts: the alar part and the transverse part. The alar part is also called the dilator naris posterior and the transverse part is also known as the compressor naris.
The transverse part of the nasalis muscle is responsible for the expression made when smelling something bad. The wrinkling of the nose in an upward fashion is sometimes called "bunny lines".
