666 



THE NOSE. 



margin, thicker than the posterior one, meets the lateral cartilage of the 

 opposite side above, but is closely united with the edge of the cartilage 

 of the septum below ; so closely indeed, that by some, as Henle, the 

 upper lateral are regarded as reflected wings of the median cartilage. 

 The inferior margin is connected by fibrous membrane with the lower 

 lateral cartilage ; and the posterior edge is inserted into the ascending 

 process of the upper maxilla and the free margin of the nasal bone. 



The loiver lateral carfihv/es (cartilagiues alarum nasi) (fig. 478, 2, 2') 

 are thinner than the preceding, below which they are placed, and are 

 chiefly characterised by their peculiar curved form. Each consists of 

 an elongated plate, so bent upon itself as to pass in front and on each 

 side of Uie nostril to which it belongs, and by this arrangement serve 

 to keep it open. The outer portion is somewhat oval and flattened, or 

 irregularly convex externally. Behind, it is attached to the margin of 

 the ascending process of the upper maxilla by tough fibrous membrane, 

 in which are two or three cartilaginous nodules {cartilafj. minorcs vel 

 sesamoidea) (fig. 478, 3) ; above, it is fixed, also by fibrous membrane, 

 to the upper lateral cartilage, and to the lower and fore part of the car- 

 tilage of the septum. Towards the middle line it is curved backwards 

 (fig? 480), bounding a deep mesial groove, at the bottom of which it 

 meets with its fellow of the opposite side, and continues to pass back- 

 wards, forming a small part of the columna nasi, below the level of the 

 cartilage of the septum. This inner part of the cartilage of the ala is 

 thick and narrow, curls outwards, and ends in a free rounded margin 

 (2*), which projects outwards towards the nostril. The lower and 



most prominent portion of the 

 ala of the nose, like the lobule 

 of the ear, is formed of thick- 

 ened skin Avitli subjacent tissue, 

 and is unsupported by car- 

 tilage. 



The cartilage of the septum 

 (fig. 481, 4) has a somewhat 

 triangular outline, and is 

 thicker at the edges than near 

 the centre. It is placed nearly 

 verticoUy in the middle line 

 of the nose, and completes, at 

 the fore part, the separation 

 between the nasal fossaj. The 

 anterior margin of tlie carti- 

 lage, thickest above, is firmly 

 attached to the back of the 

 nasal bones near their line of 

 junction ; and below this it 

 lies successively between the 

 upper and the lower lateral 

 cartilages, united firmly with 

 the former and loosely with the 

 latter. The posterior margin is fixed to the lower and fore part of 

 the central plate of the ethmoid bone {e) ; and the lower margin is 

 received into the groove of the vomer {v), as well as into the median 

 ridge between the superior maxillse. 



Fig. 481. — Osseous and Cartilaginous Sep- 

 tum OF THE Nose, seen from the Left 

 Side (Arnold), f 



a, right nasal bone ; 6, superior maxillary 

 bone ; c, sijhenoidal sinus ; d, perpendicular 

 plate of the ethmoid 1ione ; e, vomer ; 2*, inner 

 part of the right lower lateral cartilage : 4, 

 cartilage of the septum. 



