Download Measurement: Nasal root width

Measurement: Nasal root width
Synonyms: Anterior interorbital breath
Landmarks: mf-mf (maxillofrontale - maxillofrontale)
Instrument: Sliding caliper
Method: With the thumb and index fingers of one hand, gently palpate the root of your subject’s
nose just below the superior orbital rim and about halfway between the endocanthions and the
midline of the nasal bridge. You will feel the nasomaxillary sutures as shallow furrows. Follow
these to the superomedial corners of the orbits, where they meet the frontal bone. Hold the
position, with tips of your thumb and index fingers at the landmarks.
Landmark: Maxillofrontale(mf)
Synonyms: Lacrimale anterius, Maxillofrontalpunkt.
Definition: The anterior lacrimal crest of the maxilla at the frontomaxillary suture.
Remarks: Maxillofrontale is located by palpation of the crests bilaterally prior to measurement of
the nasal root width(mf-mf).
Landmark: Alar curvature point(ac)
Definition: The most posterolateral point of the curvature of the base of the nasal alae, the lateral
flaring walls of the nostrils.
Remarks: The alar curvature point is best observed from an oblique or lateral view. It is obscured
from the front by the flare of the nasal alae.
Landmark: Alare(al)
Synonyms: Nasenpflugepunlkt.
Definition: The most lateral point on the nasal ala.
Remarks: Alare is identified by the tips of the sliding caliper in the course of measuring the nasal
breadth.
Landmark: Pronasale(prn)
Definition: The most protruded point of the nasal tip.
Remarks: Pronasale is best seen in the profile view when the head is in normal rest position. It
may be difficult to locate if the tip of the nose is flat.
Landmark: Sellion(s)
Definition: the deepest point of the nasofrontal angle.
Remarks: Sellion is often used as the upper limit of the facial skeleton. It is not in most cases,
because of the anterior curvature of the superior portion of the nasal bones. Sellion is more
inferior and posterior and should not be used as a substitute for nasion.
Landmark: Subalare(sbal)
Definition: The point on the lower margin of the base of the nasal ala where the ala disappears into
the uppter lip skin.
Remarks: In some cases, subalare may be difficult to locate, depending on the morphology of the
nasal alae.
Landmark: Subnasale(sn)
Synonyms: Nasenwinkelpunkt, point sous-nasal, pronasion
Definition: The junction between the lower border of the nasal septum, the partition which divides
the nostrils, and the cutaneous portion of the upper lip in the middle.
Remarks: Subnasale is the apex of the nasolabial angle. This angle can vary from sharply defined
to a smooth curve. In the latter case, locations of subnasale may be difficult and can be best
indentified as the deepest point of the curve when viewed in profile.