Dorsal Nasal Artery, Anterior View

Description

Running along the bridge of the nose, the dorsal nasal artery is traced in the midline and just paramedian to it, coursing superiorly from the medial canthal region toward the radix and glabella. Adjacent facial musculature is rendered with clear fiber direction, including the frontalis superiorly, the procerus and nasalis over the nasal dorsum, and the orbicularis oculi encircling the palpebral fissure. Lateral to the nasal dorsum, vessels of the periorbital and cheek region are suggested in their typical superficial planes, with the sternocleidomastoid and masseter anchoring the neck and mandibular region in the same anterior field. Surface anatomy reads cleanly. Dorsal nasal arterial anatomy matters most where aesthetic and reconstructive work concentrates: the upper third of the nose, the medial canthus, and the glabellar complex. As the terminal branch of the ophthalmic artery via the angular system, it participates in clinically relevant anastomoses between internal and external carotid territories, a point that underlies the rare but catastrophic risk of retinal ischemia from inadvertent intra-arterial injection during nasal dorsum or glabellar filler placement. Rhinoplasty and paramedian forehead flap planning also benefit from a grounded sense of how this vessel runs superficial to the nasal bones yet intertwined with the procerus and nasalis planes. Small vessel, large consequences. Use this plate when you need a teaching-ready anterior reference for facial vascular territories in gross anatomy, head and neck dissection guides, or dermatologic and oculoplastic procedure manuals that address the medial canthus and nasal dorsum. It also fits preoperative counseling materials for non-surgical rhinoplasty and glabellar injections where named vessels and their anastomoses must be communicated without ambiguity. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.