An anatomical study of the arteries of the anterior nasal septum.

OBJECTIVE: The anterior nasal septum is a clinically important area, yet anatomical descriptions of its arterial pattern are hitherto incomplete. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that the arteries of the anterior nasal septum form a fine random network of vessels.

STUDY DESIGN: The arterial pattern of the nasal septum was traced by microdissection of 12 cadaveric septa (24 sides).

SETTING: Each septum was microdissected with a Watson-Barnet dissecting microscope. Specimens were photographed and the vascular patterns were analyzed.

RESULTS: The anterior septum has a consistent large arterial anastomotic triangle receiving major contributions from sphenopalatine, anterior ethmoidal, and superior labial arteries.

CONCLUSION: Systematic microdissections clearly demonstrate that the arteries of the anterior septum do not form a random network. Instead, they form a consistent arterial anastomotic triangle consisting of large, thin vessels.

SIGNIFICANCE: The study provides background material useful to the understanding of nasal physiology and pathology including epistaxis.