Dorsal Nasal Artery, Anterior View

Description

Arising from the ophthalmic artery within the orbit, the dorsal nasal artery exits near the medial canthus and runs inferiorly and medially onto the dorsum of the nose, crossing the nasal bridge superficial to the nasal bones and deep to the thin soft tissues of the radix. An anterior skull view also permits clear bony orientation using the frontal bone superiorly, the paired nasal bones at midline, and the maxilla inferiorly, with the nasal aperture and orbits framing the vascular course. Close by, the angular artery ascends along the lateral aspect of the nose, and the dorsal nasal vein parallels arterial pathways in blue. Small anastomotic channels are implied across the midline. For clinicians, this vessel matters because it sits at the intersection of ophthalmic and facial circulations, forming a direct anastomotic route between the internal and external carotid systems via connections with the angular and lateral nasal arteries. That anatomy underpins the classic danger triangle concept: infection or filler-related embolization in the nasal dorsum can propagate retrograde through the dorsal nasal artery toward the ophthalmic circulation, risking retinal ischemia and vision loss. Surgical planning benefits as well, since nasal dorsum incisions, radix dissection, and medial canthal approaches can injure this artery and compromise dorsal nasal skin perfusion. A small artery with large consequences. Use this plate in head and neck anatomy courses when teaching orbital branches of the ophthalmic artery, midfacial vascular anastomoses, and surface landmarks at the nasal root. It also fits otolaryngology, oculoplastics, and aesthetic medicine materials discussing nasal dorsum injections, medial canthal surgery, and management of epistaxis or soft-tissue trauma around the nasal bridge. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.