---
title: "Dorsum Nasi | Anatomy and Physiology I"
description: "Dorsum nasi is the visible bridge of the nose from the root to the tip, shaped by cartilage and bone and covered in Anatomy and Physiology I."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/anatomy-physiology/key-terms/dorsum-nasi"
type: "key-term"
subject: "Anatomy and Physiology I"
unit: "Unit 22"
---

# Dorsum Nasi | Anatomy and Physiology I

## Definition

The dorsum nasi is the external bridge of the nose, running from the root to the tip. In Anatomy and Physiology I, it’s part of the external nose that helps support the nasal opening and guide air toward the nasal cavity.

## What It Is

The dorsum nasi is the наружный, visible ridge of the nose, the part you can trace from the root near the forehead down to the tip. In Anatomy and Physiology I, it is part of the external nose, not the internal nasal cavity itself.

It gives the nose its basic shape. The upper portion is supported by bone, while the lower portion depends more on cartilage, especially the alar cartilage and nearby connective tissues. That support matters because the nose has to stay open while you breathe, speak, and move air in and out without collapsing.

When you look at the dorsum nasi in class images or cadaver photos, think of it as the bridge that sits over the nasal cavity. It forms the outer contour above the nostrils and helps separate the inside passageways from the outside environment. The skin and soft tissue covering it are thin enough that the underlying structure still shapes what you see.

The dorsum nasi is not just a cosmetic landmark. Its structure helps keep air moving toward the nostrils and into the nasal cavity, where the air is warmed, moistened, and filtered. If the bridge is damaged, deviated, or structurally weak, airflow can be affected because the front end of the respiratory tract is no longer holding its shape well.

A useful way to picture it is to separate the nose into visible surface parts and deeper airflow parts. The dorsum nasi belongs on the surface, but it is built to support the function underneath. In A&P, that connection between form and function is the whole point: the external shape is doing real work for breathing, even before air reaches the nasal cavity.

## Why It Matters

The dorsum nasi shows how anatomy and function are tied together in the respiratory system. In Anatomy and Physiology I, you are not just memorizing a nose label. You are learning how the external nose keeps the entrance to the airway open, protects the opening, and sets up the conditioning of incoming air.

This term also helps you read diagrams and identify landmarks. If a labeling question asks where the root, bridge, or tip of the nose is, the dorsum nasi is the visible middle section you use to orient yourself. That makes it easier to distinguish the external nose from deeper structures like the nasal cavity and septum.

It also connects to structural support. The dorsum nasi includes both bony and cartilaginous support, so it gives you a simple example of how different tissues combine to build a body part that has to be both firm and flexible. That idea shows up all over A&P, from the rib cage to the trachea.

## Connections

### [external nose](/anatomy-physiology/key-terms/external-nose)

The dorsum nasi is one part of the external nose. When you study the external nose, you are looking at the visible anatomy that frames the entry to the respiratory tract, including the bridge, nostrils, and tip. The dorsum nasi is the central ridge that helps give the external nose its overall shape.

### [Nasal cavity](/anatomy-physiology/key-terms/nasal-cavity)

Air passes from the external nose into the nasal cavity, where it is warmed, humidified, and filtered. The dorsum nasi sits outside this internal space, but it helps position and support the front end of the airway. If you confuse the two, remember that the dorsum nasi is surface anatomy, while the nasal cavity is an internal passage.

### Septum

The septum divides the nasal cavity into left and right sides, while the dorsum nasi is the outer bridge you can see from the front or side. These structures work together because the shape of the outside nose often reflects what is happening inside. A deviation in the septum can sometimes change the appearance or function of the nasal bridge area.

### [alar cartilage](/anatomy-physiology/key-terms/alar-cartilage)

Alar cartilage helps support the lower part of the nose near the nostrils, while the dorsum nasi refers to the bridge running from the root to the tip. They are nearby but not the same region. In a label set, alar cartilage usually connects more with nostril shape, while the dorsum nasi defines the central ridge.

## On the AP Exam

A labeling quiz may ask you to point to the bridge of the nose on a diagram, and that is the dorsum nasi. In a lab practical, you might identify it on a skull model, cadaver image, or surface anatomy diagram and explain that it is part of the external nose rather than the nasal cavity.

If you get a question about airflow, trace the path from the outside environment through the nostrils and into the nasal cavity. The dorsum nasi helps maintain the shape of that entrance, so you can connect structure to function instead of treating the nose like one flat region. A short-answer item may also ask why the nose stays open, and the answer often includes bony and cartilaginous support in the external nose.

## dorsum nasi vs Nasal cavity

The dorsum nasi is the outer bridge of the nose, while the nasal cavity is the internal space behind the nostrils. You can see and touch the dorsum nasi on the face, but the nasal cavity is the passage where incoming air is conditioned before it moves deeper into the respiratory tract.

## Key Takeaways

- The dorsum nasi is the visible bridge of the nose, stretching from the root to the tip.
- In Anatomy and Physiology I, it belongs to the external nose, not the internal nasal cavity.
- Its structure helps support the front of the airway so the nose keeps its shape during breathing.
- The upper part is more bony, while the lower part relies more on cartilage and soft tissue.
- You will usually use this term when labeling facial anatomy or tracing the path of air into the respiratory system.

## FAQs

### What is dorsum nasi in Anatomy and Physiology I?

The dorsum nasi is the bridge of the nose, the visible external ridge that runs from the root near the forehead to the tip. In A&P, it is part of the external nose and helps support the entrance to the respiratory tract.

### Is the dorsum nasi the same as the nasal cavity?

No. The dorsum nasi is the outside bridge of the nose, while the nasal cavity is the internal space inside the nose. The two are connected, but one is surface anatomy and the other is an internal airway passage.

### What supports the dorsum nasi?

Its upper portion is supported by bone, and its lower portion relies more on cartilage and surrounding connective tissue. That mix of support lets the nose stay firm while still keeping a flexible shape.

### How do I identify the dorsum nasi on a diagram?

Look for the central ridge on the outside of the nose between the root and the tip. If a diagram shows the nostrils, the dorsum nasi is the section above them, not the openings themselves.

## Related Study Guides

- [22.1 Organs and Structures of the Respiratory System ](/anatomy-physiology/unit-22/1-organs-structures-respiratory-system/study-guide/kin1cjWgv47M9lbF)

## About This Document

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- [llms-full.txt](https://fiveable.me/llms-full.txt): complete subject and unit listing
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