During blunt nasal trauma, the upper lateral cartilages most commonly dislocate beneath the nasal bones at the narrowest and weakest part of the bony-cartilaginous vault. This anatomical site is known as the:

• A Rhinion
• B Piriform aperture
• C Scroll area
• D Keystone area ✓

Explanation

The keystone area is where the paired upper lateral cartilages articulate with the caudal edge of the nasal bones and the dorsal septum. It is the narrowest portion of the middle vault and structurally weak, so traumatic dislocation of the upper lateral cartilages under the nasal bones typically occurs here. The rhinion is merely the osseocartilaginous junction externally, the scroll is the lower lateral cartilage overlap zone, and the piriform aperture is the bony nasal opening.

Reference: Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, 7th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.