Nasal bone

Eva Rudolf-Müller is a freelance writer in the medical team. She studied human medicine and newspaper sciences and has repeatedly worked in both areas - as a doctor in the clinic, as a reviewer, and as a medical journalist for various specialist journals. She is currently working in online journalism, where a wide range of medicine is offered to everyone.

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The nasal bone or nasal bone is paired and belongs to the facial bones. It forms the upper part of the bridge of the nose (the root of the nose), which contributes to the size and shape of the nose. The nasal bone is particularly sensitive to injuries and broken bones. Read everything you need to know about the nasal bone here: structure, position and common health problems in the area of ​​the nasal bone!

What is the nasal bone?

The nasal bone is a small, elongated bone that represents the bony upper portion of the bridge of the nose. It is created in pairs and both bones meet in the middle in a bone suture, the sutura internasalis. This bone suture does not ossify until growth is complete, which is why the size of the nose changes as it grows.

On the inner surface of the nasal bone there is a groove (sulcus ethmoidalis) in which a nerve runs (nervus ethmoidalis anterior, a branch of the ethmoid nerve) that supplies the nasal mucosa.

What is the function of the nasal bone?

The pair of nasal bones forms the root of the nose, which is part of the roof of the nasal cavity. It contributes significantly to the function of the nose: In the nose, the inhaled air is warmed, cleaned and humidified before it reaches the lower respiratory tract. With the olfactory mucous membrane in the nose, smells and smells can be perceived. In addition, the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses are involved as a resonance chamber in the formation of sounds when speaking.

Where is the nasal bone?

Towards the top, the nasal bone borders the lower side of the frontal bone. The two bones are connected to one another by a bone suture, the sutura frontonasalis.

On both sides, the nasal bone is connected to another bone suture (sutura nasomaxillaris) with an extension of the upper jaw, the processus frontalis maxillae.

The lower edge of the nasal bone forms part of the border around the outer opening of the bony nose.

Inside the nose there is a connection between the nasal bone and the nasal septum (septum nasi). The nasal septum is partly cartilaginous, partly connective tissue.

What problems can the nasal bone cause?

A bruise of the nasal bone is quite painful. A nasal bone fracture is also very uncomfortable: important symptoms are nosebleeds (if the nasal mucous membrane is also injured), red eyes and often a deformed nose. The nasal bone fracture is one of the most common injuries to the facial bones, because even a relatively small amount of force can break the nasal bone.

If the force is greater, the adjacent process of the upper jaw (frontal process) can also break.

Benign and malignant tumors and bone metastases in the nasal bone are also possible.

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