Nasalis muscle
Encyclopedia
The nasalis is a sphincter
-like muscle of the nose whose function is to compress the nasal cartilage.
It consists of two parts, transverse and alar:
Other sources divide it into "Compressor nasalis" and "Dilator nasalis".
Sphincter
A sphincter is an anatomical structure, or a circular muscle, that normally maintains constriction of a natural body passage or orifice and which relaxes as required by normal physiological functioning...
-like muscle of the nose whose function is to compress the nasal cartilage.
It consists of two parts, transverse and alar:
- The transverse part arises from the maxillaMaxillaThe maxilla is a fusion of two bones along the palatal fissure that form the upper jaw. This is similar to the mandible , which is also a fusion of two halves at the mental symphysis. Sometimes The maxilla (plural: maxillae) is a fusion of two bones along the palatal fissure that form the upper...
, above and lateral to the incisive fossa; its fibers proceed upward and medially, expanding into a thin aponeurosisAponeurosisAponeuroses are layers of flat broad tendons. They have a shiny, whitish-silvery color, are histologically similar to tendons, and are very sparingly supplied with blood vessels and nerves. When dissected, aponeuroses are papery, and peel off by sections...
which is continuous on the bridge of the nose with that of the muscle of the opposite side, and with the aponeurosis of the Procerus.
- The alar part is attached at one end to the greater alar cartilageGreater alar cartilageThe greater alar cartilage is a thin, flexible plate, situated immediately below the lateral nasal cartilage, and bent upon itself in such a manner as to form the medial wall and lateral wall of the naris of its own side....
, and at the other to the integument at the point of the nose.
Other sources divide it into "Compressor nasalis" and "Dilator nasalis".