Anatomy, Head and Neck, Lateral Nasal Artery

The human nose is a structure used primarily for inhalation and exhalation. The nose is a midline structure — cartilage from both sides of the face form the framework of the nose. Parts of the maxilla bones and palatine bone create the bony structure of the base of the nasal canal. The vomer, ethmoid, and nasal bone make up the roof and walls of the nose and the bony framework. The external appearance of the nose is formed predominately from cartilage.

Since the nose lays in the middle of the face, it has an extensive blood supply. The blood that perfuses the nose is mainly from branches of the facial artery. The branches of the facial artery and the superior labial artery perfuse the nose via the septal branches, the angular artery, the external nasal artery, the dorsal nasal artery, and the lateral nasal artery. The nose also receives blood from arterial anastomoses adjacent to the nose. The lateral nasal artery predominately perfuses the structures that make the external appearance of the nose.

The facial artery is responsible for perfusing the middle face region, including the nose — the facial artery branches into the lateral nasal artery. The lateral nasal artery is one of the arteries responsible for perfusing the nose. The lateral nasal artery branches from the facial artery and ascends the nose parallel to the ala of the nose. The lateral nasal artery travels toward the tip of the nose. The lateral nasal artery forms anastomoses with the septal branches of the superior labial artery, the angular artery, the ophthalmic artery, the internal maxillary artery, and some of the smaller arteries on the surface of the nose. The lateral nasal artery also provides perfusion to deeper structures of the nose, such as the cartilage.

The lateral nasal artery perfuses the skin on the surface of the nose. The lateral nasal artery also perfuses the cartilage that makes up the nose. The lateral nasal artery forms anastomose with the contralateral lateral nasal artery. The structures that surround the nose receive perfusion from the lateral nasal artery via the anastomoses. The lateral nasal artery provides collateral blood flow to the lip via the anastomosis with the columellar artery and the septal branches of the superior labial artery. The anastomoses form a network around the region of the nose and the bordering cheek. This network is a way the facial artery can provide collateral blood supply to the contralateral facial artery.

During embryology, the brachial apparatus will form the structures in the face and neck. The aortic arches will form in parallel with the brachial apparatus. The aortic arches will develop into arteries in the face, neck, and chest. The third aortic arch will form the common carotid artery. The common carotid artery ascends the face and branches into the external carotid artery and the internal carotid artery. The internal carotid artery will ascend into the cranial valve to perfuse the brain. The external carotid artery ascends and perfuses the face via its branches. The external carotid artery branches into the facial artery around the mouth. The facial artery gives rise to the lateral nasal artery. The lateral nasal artery will eventually ascend the nose to perfuse the nose region.[1]

The lateral nasal artery will predominately perfuse the nose. The skin on the nose and the cheek bordering the nose also received blood from the lateral nasal artery. The muscles on the nose and the muscles adjacent to the cheek will receive blood from the lateral nasal artery. The extensive network of anastomoses perfuses the middle face region.

The lymph drainage around the nose will drain into facial lymph nodes. These facial lymph nodes will either drain toward the preauricular lymph nodes or the submandibular lymph nodes. Then the lymph will eventually drain back into the central circulation via the right lymphatic duct or the thoracic duct. The right lymphatic duct will drain the right half of the face while the thoracic duct drains the left.

The blood supply from the lateral nasal artery provides blood to the distal parts of the cranial nerve I (olfactory nerve).[2] The ophthalmic branch of the cranial nerve V (trigeminal nerve) gives off the nasociliary nerve. The nasociliary nerve branches of the ophthalmic nerve will descend along the roof of the nasal cavity and derive its blood supply from the lateral nasal artery.