title: Piriform aperture surgery for alar collapse.
abstract: The region of maximum resistance in the respiratory tract is in the anterior part of the nose, and this area has been termed the nasal valve. Inspiratory narrowing of this area, known as alar or nasal valve collapse can produce the symptom of obstruction, and may be very difficult to correct. The anatomy and physiology of the nasal valve are discussed followed by the author's technique for correction of a common problem leading to alar collapse; a narrow piriform aperture, which is often associated with a prominent web at the muco-cutaneous junction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Hull Royal Infirmary, UK.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Woodhead
mesh_terms: D044383:Black People; D006801:Humans; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014420:Turbinates / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D044465:White People