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Pulmonologist

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Nose: symptoms of diseases in adults and children

Alexey Kryvenko, medical expert
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025

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The nasal region includes the external nose and the nasal cavity.

The external nose (nasus externus) consists of the root, bridge, apex and wings of the nose. The root of the nose (radix nasi) is located in the upper part of the face, separated from the forehead by a notch - the bridge of the nose. The lateral sections of the external nose along the midline are connected by the bridge of the nose (dorsum nasi), ending in front with the apex. The lower part of the lateral sections forms the wings of the nose (alae nasi), limiting the nostrils - openings for the passage of air. The nostrils (nares) are separated along the midline by the membranous part of the nasal septum. The root of the nose, the upper part of the bridge of the external nose have a bony base formed by the nasal bones and the frontal processes of the maxilla. The middle part of the back and the lateral part of the external nose have as their basis a paired triangular-shaped lateral cartilage of the nose (cartilago nasi lateralis), which is connected along the midline with the same cartilage of the opposite side. Below the lateral cartilage is the large cartilage of the wing of the nose (cartilago alaris major), which limits the nostril of the corresponding side in front and on the side. Small cartilages of the wings (cartilagines alares minores) in the amount of 2-3 on each side are located behind the large cartilage of the wing of the nose, between it and the edge of the pyriform opening. Between the lateral cartilage and the large cartilage of the wing of the nose, several additional nasal cartilages of different sizes (cortilagines nasales accessoriae) are often found.

The cartilage of the nasal septum (cartilago septi nasi) adjoins the inner surface of the bridge of the nose. It is unpaired and has an irregular quadrangular shape. Behind and above, the cartilage of the nasal septum is connected to the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone, behind and below - to the vomer and the anterior nasal spine. Between the lower edge of the cartilage of the nasal septum and the anterior edge of the vomer is the narrow vomeronasal cartilage (cartilago vomeronasalis). The cartilages of the nose, covered with perichondrium, are connected to each other by structures of connective tissue.

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