Head and neck muscles (chewing, facial, and throat muscles)

Depressor Septi Nasi

Musculus depressor septi nasi

Origin

Maxilla, above the medial incisor

Insertion

Mobile part of the nasal septum

Function

Pulls the tip of the nose and nasal septum downward, and helps dilate the nasal alae during deep inspiration

Innervation

Buccal branch of the facial nerve (CN VII)

Movement & chain

Pulls the nasal tip and mobile nasal septum downward; a small mimetic movement that works together with the alar part of the nasalis muscle.

Palpation

Palpable directly beneath the nasal columella above the upper lip.

Clinical

Overactivity is associated with a drooping nasal tip on smiling; occasionally a target muscle in aesthetic treatment.

Segmental innervation

CN VII, motor.

In clinical practice

Depresses the nasal tip upon smiling; myotomy performed during rhinoplasty to correct hyperdynamic drooping nasal tip.

Region in the model

Head and neck muscles (chewing, facial, and throat muscles)