Nasalis muscle

Origin: Maxilla

Insertion: Nasal bone

Nerve: Buccal branch of the facial nerve

Action: Compresses bridge, depresses tip of nose, elevates corners of nostrils

Description:
The Nasalis (Compressor naris) 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 medialward, 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 by one end to the greater alar cartilage, and by the other to the integument at the point of the nose.