Nasalis Muscle

Nasalis Muscle

The nasalis (compressor naris) is a sphincter-like muscle of the nose whose function is to compress the nasal cartilage. It is the muscle responsible for "flaring" of the nostrils.

It consists of two parts, transverse and alar:

• The transverse part arises from the maxilla, above and lateral to the incisive fossa; its fibers proceed upward and medially, expanding into a thin aponeurosis which is continuous on the bridge of the nose with that of the muscle of the opposite side, and with the aponeurosis of the Procerus.

• The alar part is attached at one end to the greater alar cartilage, and at the other to the integument at the point of the nose.

Other sources divide it into "Compressor nasalis" and "Dilator nasalis".