Lateral Nasal Artery, Gross Anatomy

Description

Arising from the facial artery as it courses superiorly along the nasolabial region, the lateral nasal artery runs toward the ala nasi and lateral wall of the nose, then breaks into fine terminal arterioles approaching the nasal tip and dorsum. Superolaterally, small branches approach the medial canthus to meet the angular artery territory, while more medial twigs cross toward the septal side through the alar soft tissues. The underlying skull is rendered with the orbits superiorly and the maxillary and mandibular dental arches inferiorly, giving bony reference for the artery’s superficial facial trajectory. Red arterial channels and blue companion veins map the facial vascular network around the piriform aperture and nasal bones. For facial surgery, this vessel matters because it defines the vascular supply of the ala and sidewall, territories routinely elevated in rhinoplasty, alar base reduction, and nasolabial flap design. Injury or spasm can contribute to alar skin ischemia, and its anastomoses with branches of the ophthalmic system (via the dorsal nasal and angular pathways) frame a known route for retrograde embolization in filler injections near the nasal dorsum and tip. Small vessel. Big consequences. Use this plate in head and neck anatomy teaching to anchor the facial artery’s terminal pattern against fixed craniofacial landmarks, or in procedural education to discuss safer injection planes and flap perfusion when operating around the nose and medial cheek. It also suits medical publishing that needs a clean depiction of the lateral nasal artery with adjacent venous drainage for surgical atlases, dermatologic anatomy references, or patient-facing risk illustrations. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.