An Anatomical Study of the Arteries of the Anterior Nasal Septum
Objective
The anterior nasal septum is a clinically important area, yet anatomical descriptions of its arterial pattern are hitherto incomplete. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that the arteries of the anterior nasal septum form a fine random network of vessels.
Study design
The arterial pattern of the nasal septum was traced by microdissection of 12 cadaveric septa (24 sides).
Setting
Each septum was microdissected with a Watson-Barnet dissecting microscope. Specimens were photographed and the vascular patterns were analyzed.
Results
The anterior septum has a consistent large arterial anastomotic triangle receiving major contributions from sphenopalatine, anterior ethmoidal, and superior labial arteries.
Conclusion
Systematic microdissections clearly demonstrate that the arteries of the anterior septum do not form a random network. Instead, they form a consistent arterial anastomotic triangle consisting of large, thin vessels.
Significance
The study provides background material useful to the understanding of nasal physiology and pathology including epistaxis.
aDepartment of Surgery, Plastic Reconstructive Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
bLaboratory of Human Anatomy, University of Glasgow
Reprint requests: Tor Wo Chiu, Plastic Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, 4th Floor, Clinical Sciences Building, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong.
ABSTRACT