Do the upper lateral nasal cartilages exist? The concept of septolateral cartilages.
Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis 2020;
138:77-81. [PMID:
33144032 DOI:
10.1016/j.anorl.2020.06.017]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
In the cartilaginous nose, classical surgical anatomy describes 2 triangular upper lateral cartilages (ULCs) framing the lateral sides of the mid-third of the nasal pyramid, which articulate with to the superior edge of the quadrangular cartilage (QC) of the nasal septum. This anatomic arrangement in 3 distinct cartilage parts is, however, controversial.
OBJECTIVE
The present study aimed to describe the articulation between the ULCs and the QC, avoiding dissection artefacts.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Six nasal pyramids were taken in monobloc from fresh cadavers and imaged on micro-MRI with 0.4mm slice thickness. Images were interpreted jointly by 2 head and neck surgeons and a radiologist.
RESULTS
The cartilage skeleton supporting the mid-third of the nasal dorsum in all specimens presented as 2 septal plates backing onto the midline and curving on either side to form a continuous dome under the inferior aspect of the piriform aperture.
CONCLUSION
Like the alar cartilages framing the tip of the nose, there are two continuous septolateral cartilages (SLCs) framing the mid-third of the nasal pyramid, likewise showing 2 cruras, medial and lateral, joined in a dome. The SLCs (also known as triangular cartilages) thus cannot be separated as 2 individual anatomic structures. These findings are in line with the shared embryological origin of all the elements composing the fibrocartilaginous nose in evo-devo theory.
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