Nasal bones: anatomy of the nasal dorsum
- Highlighted area
Quick facts
- Definition
- Two small, elongated bones that form the upper part of the nasal dorsum.
- Articulations
- With the frontal bone above, with each other at the midline and with the frontal process of the maxilla on the sides.
- Lower limit
- They meet the upper lateral cartilages at the rhinion, the bony and cartilaginous transition of the dorsum.
- Characteristic
- They are thicker and narrower above and thinner and wider below.
- Relevance in facial harmonization
- Define the bony base of the hump and of deviation, and the thin-skin point at the rhinion.
The nasal bones are two small, elongated bones that form the upper part of the nasal dorsum, the so-called bony vault. They meet at the midline, rest on the frontal processes of the maxilla on the sides and on the frontal bone above, at the nasion. Below, they end at the rhinion, where they meet the cartilages of the nose. In facial harmonization, they matter because they explain the bony part of the hump, some deviations and the thinner skin in the middle of the dorsum.
How do the nasal bones articulate?
| Border | What it articulates with | What to observe |
|---|---|---|
| Upper | Frontal bone (frontonasal suture) | Root region, at the nasion, where the bone is thickest |
| Medial | The other nasal bone (internasal suture) | Midline of the dorsum; support from the septum behind |
| Lateral | Frontal process of the maxilla | Lateral wall of the nose, near the inner corner of the eye |
| Lower | Upper lateral cartilages | Rhinion, overlap area and thinner skin |
Together with the frontal processes of the maxilla, the nasal bones close the upper part of the piriform aperture, the bony entrance of the nasal cavity. Their length and width vary considerably: short bones leave more of the dorsum supported by cartilage alone.
What is the rhinion?
The rhinion is the point on the dorsum where the nasal bones end and cartilage begins. At this transition, the upper lateral cartilages lie beneath the edge of the bones, which gives firmness to the middle of the dorsum. The skin over the rhinion is usually the thinnest of the nasal dorsum, thinner than at the nasion and the tip. For that reason, small irregularities and excess product show more easily there.
Why do they matter in facial harmonization?
- Hump: a dorsal hump usually has a bony part, from the nasal bones, and a cartilaginous part. Nonsurgical rhinoplasty camouflages the hump by adding volume above and below it, without removing bone.
- Deviation: deviation of the bony pyramid, congenital or from fracture, shows best on the frontal photo, relative to the facial midline. Camouflaging it with volume has limits.
- Surgical history: rhinoplasty with osteotomies changes the position of the bones, creates internal scarring and can alter the course of the dorsal vessels.
- Nasofrontal angle: the meeting of the nasal bones with the frontal bone defines the root and influences the nasofrontal angle.
How does it show up in the assessment?
- Palpation of the dorsum: separates the firm, bony part from the more mobile cartilaginous part, and locates the rhinion.
- Front, profile and base-view photos: show the hump, deviation and width of the bony base.
- History: fractures, nasal surgery, prior procedures on the nose and breathing complaints.
- Expectation: separating what volume can camouflage from what only surgery corrects. The topic is covered in nonsurgical rhinoplasty or rhinoplasty.
Also called: nasal bone, ossa nasalia, bony vault of the nose (the set).
Frequently asked questions
Is the nasal hump bone or cartilage?
Usually both. The upper part of the hump is formed by the nasal bones and the lower part by the upper lateral cartilages and the septum, joined at the rhinion. The proportion of bone to cartilage varies from person to person.
Does filler change the nasal bones?
No. Filler adds volume over the structure and can camouflage a hump or deviation, but it does not reduce or reposition bone. Someone who needs bone reduction or correction is a candidate for surgical assessment.