näsplåtar

Näsplåtar is a Swedish term meaning nasal plates. The phrase is not a standard or widely used label in modern anatomical nomenclature and tends to appear mainly in historical, niche, or paleontological writings. It generally refers to one or more bony or cartilaginous plates located in the nasal region, often considered as part of a larger cranial dermal skeleton.

In biology, nasal plates are described as elements that may cover or reinforce the external nasal region. In some fishes and amphibians with exposed dermal plates, nasal plates can contribute to protection or to the shaping of the snout. In other vertebrates, analogous structures may be discussed under different terms, with terminology varying between authors and disciplines.

In paleontology, nasal plates frequently appear as discrete elements within the cephalic armor of extinct armored fishes and related groups. Descriptions focus on their size, articulation with neighboring plates, and their presumed roles in defense, hydrodynamics, or sensory support.

In human anatomy, nasal plates are not a standard term. Humans possess nasal bones, cartilage, and soft tissue structures that form the nose, but no formal structure commonly referred to as nasal plates.

Etymology: näs means nose and plåtar means plates.

See also: nasal bones, dermal plates, cranial armor, rostrum.