Cottle’s Line
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🦴 Cottle's Line
Cottle’s line is a vertical imaginary line drawn from the nasal process of the frontal bone and extends down to the anterior nasal spine of the maxilla.
🧠 Clinical Importance of Cottle's Line
In earlier surgical practice, Cottle’s line was used to divide the nasal septum into two regions:
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Anterior to Cottle's line:
Deviations in this area were typically managed by Septoplasty alone.
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Posterior to Cottle's line:
Deviations could be corrected by either:
- Submucous Resection (SMR)
- Septoplasty
📝 Note: While its usage is more historical, understanding Cottle's line is still important for conceptual clarity in ENT anatomy and surgical planning.
💡 Tip for Exams:
Questions on Cottle’s test and Cottle’s line are often confused. Remember, the test is functional (assesses nasal valve), while Cottle’s line is anatomical.
📝 All the topics and questions mentioned in this post are explained in detail in my ENT notes - built for exam success and clinical understanding. Get full access by purchasing the notes.