Dilator naris muscle

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Dilator naris muscle
Musculusdilatatornarisposterior.png
Muscles of the head, face, and neck.
Details
Origin margin of the nasal notch of the maxilla, greater and lesser alar cartilages
Insertion skin near the margin of the nostril
Nerve buccal branch of the facial nerve
Actions dilates nostrils
Identifiers
Latin pars alaris musculi nasalis
Anatomical terms of muscle

The dilator naris muscle (or alae nasi muscle) is a part of the nasalis muscle. It has an anterior and a posterior part. It has origins from the nasal notch of the maxilla and the major alar cartilage, and a single insertion near the margin of the nostril. It controls nostril width, including changes during breathing. Its function can be tested as an analogue for the function of the facial nerve (VII), which supplies it.

Contents

Structure

The dilator naris muscle is divided into posterior and anterior parts.

Nerve supply

The dilator naris muscle is supplied by the facial nerve (VII). [3]

Function

The dilator naris muscle has a role in widening and narrowing the nostril, along with other muscles. [3] [4] It may prevent the collapse of the nostril during inhalation, particularly in people with narrower nostrils. [4] The respiratory centre of the brainstem can use the muscle to control nostril width in relation to breathing. [3] [5] It also moves the tip of the nose slightly. [2]

Clinical significance

The function of the dilator naris muscle can be used as an analogue for the activity of the facial nerve (VII). [5]

History

The dilator naris muscle may also be known as the alae nasi muscle. [4]

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References

PD-icon.svgThis article incorporates text in the public domain from page 382 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. 1 2 3 Hur, Mi-Sun; Hu, Kyung-Seok; Youn, Kwan-Hyun; Song, Wu-Chul; Abe, Shinichi; Kim, Hee-Jin (March 2011). "New anatomical profile of the nasal musculature: Dilator naris vestibularis, dilator naris anterior, and alar part of the nasalis". Clinical Anatomy. 24 (2): 162–167. doi:10.1002/ca.21115. PMID   21254248. S2CID   20852683.
  2. 1 2 3 Figallo, Eleazar E.; Acosta, Jaime A. (October 2001). "Nose Muscular Dynamics: The Tip Trigonum". Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 108 (5): 1118–1126. doi:10.1097/00006534-200110000-00003. PMID   11604607. S2CID   27776140.
  3. 1 2 3 Mann, Douglas G.; Sasaki, Clarence T.; Fukuda, Hiroyuki; Suzuki, Masafumi; Hernandez, Juan R. (May 1977). "Dilator Naris Muscle". Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology. 86 (3): 362–370. doi:10.1177/000348947708600314. PMID   869439. S2CID   30054259.
  4. 1 2 3 Bruintjes, T. D.; van Olphen, A. F.; Hillen, B.; Weijs, W. A. (November 1996). "Electromyography of the human nasal muscles". European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology. 253 (8): 464–469. doi:10.1007/BF00179951. PMID   8950546. S2CID   10923845.
  5. 1 2 Sasaki, C. T.; Mann, D. G. (1 June 1976). "Dilator Naris Function: A Useful Test of Facial Nerve Integrity". Archives of Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery. 102 (6): 365–367. doi:10.1001/archotol.1976.00780110077009. PMID   1275805.