772 



THE NOSE. 



Fig. 529. 



Fig. 530. 



the nasal cavity. The anterior 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 mem- 

 brane 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. 



Fig. 529. FROKT VIEW OF THE 

 CARTILAGES OF THE NOSE (from 

 Arnold), f 



a, a', nasal bones ; 1, 1', upper 

 lateral cartilages or wing-like ex- 

 pansions of the septal cartilage ; 

 2, 2', lower lateral cartilages. 



Fig. 530. VIEW OF THE CARTI- 

 LAGES OF THE NOSE FROM BE- 

 LOW (from Arnold), f 



2, 2', outer part of the lower 

 lateral cartilages ; 2*, 2*, inner 

 part of the same ; 4, lower edge 

 of the cartilage of the septum. 



The lower lateral cartilages (cartilagines alarum nasi) are thinner than the 

 preceding, below which they are placed, and are chiefly characterised by their 

 peculiar curved form. Each cartilage consists of an elongated plate, so bent 

 upon itself as to pass in front and on each side of the nostril to which it 

 belongs, and by this arrangement serves 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 (cartilag. minores vel sesamoidese) ; above, it is fixed, also by fibrous 

 membrane, to the upper lateral cartilage, and to the lower and fore part 

 of the cartilage of the septum. Towards the middle line it is curved back- 

 wards, bounding a deep mesial groove, at the bottom of which it meets with 

 its fellow of the opposite side, and continues to pass backwards, 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 which projects out- 

 wards towards the nostril. The lower and most prominent portion of the 

 ala of the nose, like the lobule of the ear, is formed of thickened skin with 

 subjacent tissue, and is unsupported by cartilage. 



The cartilage of the septum has a somewhat triangular outline, and is 

 thicker at the edges than near the centre. It is placed nearly vertically 

 in the middle line of the nose, and completes, at the fore part, the separation 

 between the nasal fossae. The anterior margin of the cartilage, 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 ; and the lower margin is received into 



