ORGAN OF SMELLING. 389 



superior margin, to the nasal lamella of the ethmoid and to the 

 middle nasal suture, and behind to the anterior margin of the 

 vomer. The inferior margin is free in the greater part of its 

 extent, but adheres behind to the suture between the maxillary 

 bones. The anterior margin sends out, on each side, a trian- 

 gular plate, the upper edge of which adheres to the inferior 

 margin of the nasal bone, and of the nasal process of the upper 

 maxillary. These plates form the upper part of the cartilagi- 

 nous nose, and from their ligamentous attachment to the bones, 

 admit of a slight motion from side to side. 



The Oval Cartilages, one on each side, are a species of semi- 

 elliptical ring, deficient or open at their posterior end. The 

 external side of the ring, is an oblong oval plate, which is di- 

 rected upwards and backwards. The internal half of the ring 

 is much narrower, and proceeds backwards from the preceding 

 part at a very acute angle: its superior margin is in contact 

 with the septum cartilagineum; its inferior margin reaches be- 

 low the latter, and its anterior extremity is in contact with its 

 fellow, owing to the cartilaginous septum not reaching so far 

 forwards. The place of contact of the two oval cartilages to 

 each other, forms the tip of the nose and the Columna Nasi, and 

 gives the apparent thickness, before dissection, to the lower 

 part of the septum narium. 



The Aloe Nasi, or the convexities, on each side of the base 

 of the nose, it has been said, owe their shape to the presence 

 of several small pieces of cartilage, whose form, size, and num- 

 ber are too variable to admit of a standard description: occa- 

 sionally they are all collected into but one cartilage. They serve 

 a similar purpose with the oval cartilage, and with it are the 

 means by which the orifice of the nostril is kept patulous. They 

 are deposited in, and held together by a ligamentous membrane. 

 This membrane attaches them to the lateral margin of the an- 

 terior bony narjs, and also unites the upper edge of the ex- 

 ternal plale of the oval cartilage to the inferior margin of the 

 triangular plate of the cartilaginous septum. It is the length 

 and looseness of this ligament which permit such free motion 

 to the end of the nose. In addition there exists a small liga- 

 ment described by Caldani, which goes from the posterior end 

 of the columna nasi to the anterior inferior margin of the bony 

 nares. 



34* 



