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The human body is made up of more than 600 muscles that help us perform various tasks, from holding our bodies still to running marathons. These muscles are made of thousands of small fibres woven together, and they come in three types: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac. The anconeus muscle, for instance, is a small muscle in the elbow joint that can be considered a continuation of the triceps brachii muscle.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nasal muscles | Thin and difficult to visualize |
| Belong to the subgroup of muscles of facial expression | |
| Include the nasalis muscle | |
| Nasalis muscle | Consists of two parts: alar (dilator naris posterior) and transverse (compressor naris) |
| Compresses the nasal cartilages | |
| Flares the nostrils | |
| Derived from the second pharyngeal arch | |
| Innervated by the facial nerve (CN VII) | |
| Receives blood supply from the facial artery and its branches |
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What You'll Learn
- The human nose is complex structurally, with a pyramidal shape
- The nasalis muscle is composed of two parts: the alar and the transverse
- The external nose is a visible component of the face, with several small muscles inserting into it
- The nasal muscles are thin and difficult to visualise
- The nasal muscles are a subgroup of the muscles of facial expression
The human nose is complex structurally, with a pyramidal shape
The human nose is a complex structure with a unique shape that varies from person to person. While noses are generally pyramidal in shape, they come in a variety of sizes, and the shape of the nostrils, the angle of the nasal tip, and the width of the nasal bridge contribute to each person's distinct nose. The nose is composed of several bones and cartilages that form its bony-cartilaginous framework and protect its internal structures. The nasal bone and cartilage play a significant role in determining the shape of the nose.
The internal structure of the nose is equally intricate. The nasal septum, composed of cartilage and bone, divides the nasal cavity into two separate compartments. The nasal cavity houses important structures such as the cilia, which are tiny, hair-like structures that trap dirt and particles, and the conchae and meatuses, which create turbulence to optimize the warming, moistening, and filtering of the air before it reaches the lungs. This conditioning of the air plays a crucial role in maintaining the proper functioning of the lungs.
The nose is also home to several muscles that are involved in respiration and facial expressions. These muscles include the procerus, nasalis, depressor septi nasi, levator labii superioris alaeque nasi, and the orbicularis oris of the mouth. The nasalis muscle, for example, compresses the nasal cartilages and can flare the nostrils. The muscles of the nose form a continuous layer with connections to the ligaments and other components of the nasal system.
The nose has many important functions related to breathing, sense of smell, and speech. It allows air to enter and oxygenate the body, filters and cleans the air by removing germs and allergens, and contributes to the warming and moistening of the air before it enters the respiratory system. The nose also provides a sense of smell and affects the way we sound when we speak. Overall, the human nose is a complex structure, both externally and internally, and plays a crucial role in various bodily functions.
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The nasalis muscle is composed of two parts: the alar and the transverse
The nasalis muscle is a nasal muscle of facial expression. It is the largest of the nasal muscles and is made up of two parts: the transverse and the alar.
The transverse part, also known as the compressor naris, originates from the maxilla, which is immediately lateral to the nose. It attaches to an aponeurosis across the dorsum of the nose. The transverse part of the nasalis muscle wrinkles the nasal skin and compresses the nasal aperture. The inserting fibres of its transverse part are directly related to, and may partially blend with, the aponeurosis of the procerus muscle.
The alar part, also called dilator naris posterior, originates from the maxilla overlying the lateral incisor. It attaches to the alar cartilage of the nasal skeleton. The alar part of the nasalis muscle widens the nasal opening by pulling the ala laterally. It also dilates the nostrils, allowing for the flaring of nostrils during breathing and in emotionally driven situations. The alar part lies lateral to the depressor septi muscle.
The nasalis muscle is one of the key muscles that may not be formed or inserted correctly in cleft lip and cleft palate deformities. Its superficial position makes it useful for testing the facial nerve, particularly the zygomatic branches.
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The external nose is a visible component of the face, with several small muscles inserting into it
The human nose is a complex structure, with a variety of shapes and forms. The external nose is the visible component of the face, with a pyramidal shape. The nasal root is located superiorly and connects to the forehead, while the apex, or tip, is the rounded end of the nose. The dorsum of the nose spans between the root and apex. The nares, or nostrils, are located immediately below the apex and provide an entrance to the nasal cavity.
The external nose is formed by several bones, including the nasal, frontal, and maxillae bones, which contribute to its skeletal framework. However, the external shape of the nose is largely determined by soft tissue structures such as muscles, skin, and fat, rather than the underlying bones. These soft tissue structures vary in thickness along the dorsum, and these differences are individualized.
Several small muscles insert into the external nose, contributing to facial expressions. These muscles are thin and difficult to visualize, but they are vital for both nasal function and appearance. The nasalis muscle, for example, is a small muscle that covers the dorsum of the nose and consists of two parts: the alar and transverse. The alar part, also known as the dilator naris posterior, dilates the nostrils and pulls the ala nasi (nostril wings) laterally, resulting in the "flaring" of the nostrils. The transverse part, also known as the compressor naris, wrinkles the nasal skin and compresses the nasal aperture.
The procerus muscle is another example of a small muscle inserting into the external nose. It originates in the fascia overlying the nasal bone and lateral nasal cartilage and inserts into the inferior forehead. Contraction of the procerus muscle can depress the medial eyebrows and wrinkle the skin of the superior dorsum. The transverse portion of the nasalis muscle assists the procerus muscle in this action.
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The nasal muscles are thin and difficult to visualise
The human nose is complex in structure, and this complexity results in variations in nasal shape and form. The nasal muscles are thin and difficult to visualise, but their preservation is vital to nasal function and appearance. The nose is composed of bones, cartilage, muscles, subcutaneous fat, and ligaments. The external nose has a pyramidal shape, with the nasal root located at the top and the apex ending in a rounded tip. The dorsum of the nose spans between the root and the apex. The nares, or nostrils, are located immediately below the apex and are bounded by the nasal septum and the ala nasi, or the lateral cartilaginous wings of the nose.
The nasalis muscle is a small muscle that covers the dorsum of the nose. It consists of two parts: the alar part, also known as the dilator naris posterior, and the transverse part, also known as the compressor naris. The alar part of the nasalis muscle originates from the maxilla and inserts into the major alar cartilage, allowing it to dilate the nares and flare the nostrils. The transverse part of the nasalis muscle originates from the maxilla and attaches superolaterally to the incisive foramen. Its fibres course superomedially, expanding into a thin aponeurosis at the bridge of the nose. The transverse part of the nasalis muscle also assists the procerus muscle in depressing the medial eyebrows and wrinkling the skin of the superior dorsum.
The nasalis muscle is one of the key muscles involved in facial expression and is innervated by the buccal branch of the facial nerve (CN VII). Several arteries and nerves course over the superior surface of the nasalis muscle, including the facial artery, terminal branches of the infraorbital artery and nerve, and the external nasal artery and nerve. The blood supply to the nasalis muscle comes from the superior labial, septal, and lateral nasal branches of the facial artery, as well as the infraorbital branch of the maxillary artery.
The muscles of the nose form a distinct subgroup within the muscles of facial expression. However, there is a lack of understanding regarding the variation within the thickness of the soft tissue structures, including muscles, skin, and fat, and their relationship to the dorsum shape. This variation in thickness has been observed in studies examining the internal anatomical structures and their relationship to the external nasal profile.
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The nasal muscles are a subgroup of the muscles of facial expression
The human face has about 20 flat skeletal muscles that attach to different places on the skull. These muscles, also known as craniofacial muscles, are responsible for chewing and making facial expressions. They are located all over the face, including the ears, mouth, forehead, nose, and eyes.
The facial muscles can be broadly categorized into three groups: orbital, nasal, and oral. The nasal group of facial muscles, or nasal muscles, are associated with movements of the nose and the skin surrounding it. They are a subgroup of the muscles of facial expression. The nasal muscle group includes the nasalis and procerus muscles. These muscles are primarily involved in creating facial expressions, but they also contribute to respiration.
The nasalis muscle is one of the key muscles that is often not formed or inserted correctly in cleft lip and cleft palate deformities. It is comprised of two parts: transverse and alar. The transverse part originates from the maxilla, immediately lateral to the nose, and attaches to an aponeurosis across the dorsum of the nose. The alar part originates from the maxilla overlying the lateral incisor and attaches to the alar cartilage of the nasal skeleton. The transverse part compresses the nasal opening, while the alar part widens it. The nasalis muscle is also involved in flaring the nostrils.
The procerus is the most superior of the nasal muscles. It is a small pyramidal muscle occupying the region of the glabella, found between the eyebrows. The procerus acts on its superior attachment to depress the medial ends of the eyebrows and wrinkle the skin over the glabella, creating a facial expression of frowning. This muscle is innervated by the temporal, lower zygomatic, or buccal branches of the facial nerve.
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Frequently asked questions
The nasalis is a paired muscle that covers the dorsum of the nose. It consists of two parts: alar (dilator naris posterior) and transverse (compressor naris).
The nasalis muscle compresses the nasal cartilages and may "flare" the nostrils. It also pulls the ala nasi (nostril wings) laterally and wrinkles the nasal skin.
The external nose is a visible component of the face that projects over and allows entrance into the nasal cavity. It has a pyramidal shape and consists of the nasal root, apex or tip, and the dorsum of the nose.
The muscles of the nose form a distinct subgroup within the muscles of facial expression. They contribute to facial expressions and enable functions such as flaring of nostrils during breathing and emotional situations.
The blood supply to the nasalis muscle comes from the superior labial, septal, and lateral nasal branches of the facial artery, as well as the infraorbital branch of the maxillary artery.
