Anatomy
Origin:
Transverse part: Maxilla just lateral to the nose.
Alar part: Maxilla over the lateral incisor.
Insertion:
Transverse part: Aponeurosis across the dorsum of the nose, with fibres from other side.
Alar part: Alar cartilage of the nose.
Key Relations:
Largest of the muscles in the nasal group.
Functions
Transverse part: Compresses the nasal aperture.
Alar part: Draws alar cartilages downwards and laterally thereby dilating the nasal aperture e.g. when flaring the nostrils..
Supply
Nerve Supply:
Zygomatic and buccal branches of the facial nerve (CN 7).
Blood Supply:
-Lateral nasal artery
–Angular artery.
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