Anatomy of the nasal latero-lateral cartilage articulation: a micro-MRI study in human specimens

To study the anatomy of the latero-lateral joint (LLJ) between the upper lateral (ULC) and lower lateral (LLC) crus of the nasal cartilages, usually described as a scroll articulation.

Six nasal pyramids were taken in monobloc from fresh cadavers and imaged on micro-MRI with 0.4 mm slice thickness. Images were jointly interpreted by two head and neck radiologists and one surgeon. The junction between the ULC and LLC, the presence of ligaments and of sesamoid or accessory cartilages were assessed.

Eight LLJs could be analyzed, with four types of junctions: hook-shaped cephalic border of the LLC turned towards the nasal fossa and linear caudal border of the ULC (n = 3), hook-shaped caudal border of the ULC and linear cephalic border of the LLC lateral crus (n = 1), hook-shaped border of both cartilaginous edges with clinging (n = 1) (scroll articulation) or without clinging (n = 3). No ligament or sesamoid cartilage was found, but posterior accessory cartilages were seen in 75% of the cases.

The classical scroll articulation of the LLJ has been observed in only 1/8 cases on micro-MRI images. The anatomy of the LLJ could explain the surgical difficulty in raising the tip of the nose in some patients and not in others.