Applied Anatomy of the Nasal Septum: Little’s Area and Clinical Significance

Applied Anatomy of the Nasal Septum: Little’s Area and Clinical Significance

Describe gross anatomy of nasal septum. (or) Describe nasal septum. Give its blood supply, nerve supply, lymphatic drainage & applied anatomy (or) Nerve supply of septum of nose (or) Nasal septum
Answer:

• It is a median osseocartilagenous partition between the two halves of the nasal cavity

Nasal Septum Formation:

• It is partly formed by bone & partly by cartilage

1. 1. Bony part
      • It is formed by
        1. Perpendicular plate of ethmoid
        2. Vomer
        3. Accessory bones like
           • Nasal spine of frontal bone
           • Sphenoidal crest & rostrum
           • Palatine processes of maxillae & horizontal parts of palatine bone
   2. Cartilages are formed by
      • Septal cartilage
      • Septal process of lower nasal cartilage
      • Vomeronasal cartilage

Nasal Septum  Blood supply, nerve supply & lymphatic drainage:

• General sensory nerves arises from trigeminal nerve
• Special sensory nerves are olfactory nerves which are confined to the upper part of olfactory area

Nasal Septum  Applied anatomy:

Little’s Area:

• It is common site of epitaxis
• It is an area of formation of large capillary network called the Kiesselbach’s plexus
• It is formed by anastomosis of five arteries

1. 1. Sphenopalatine artery
   2. Superior labial branch of facial artery
   3. Anterior ethmoidal artery
   4. Greater palatine artery
   5. Nasal branches of facial artery
      • Pathological deviation of the nasal septum causes repeated attacks of common cold, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, etc.