Anatomy
Paired, short, oblong. Right and left articulate to form bridge of nose. A crest underneath joint forms part of nasal septum and articulates with spine of frontal, perpendicular plate of ethmoid, and septal cartilage.
Each nasal bone articulates with frontal at upper edge, and frontal process of maxilla at lateral edge. Lateral cartilage of nose continues down to nostril from lower edge.
Vignette
Facial fracture most commonly missed; can be difficult to identify on plain X-ray. Ultrasound of high proportion of foetuses with trisomy 21 (Down’s) shows hypoplasia or no development of nasal bones at 11-13 weeks; used as diagnostic aid.
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