Epistaxis - Little's area

Little's area or Kiesselbach's plexus is named after Wilhelm Kiesselbach (1839-1902) a German otolaryngologist.Most of the nasal bleeds especially in children arise from this area because this area is highly exposed to trauma due to nasal picking and dry air and moreover due to its rich blood supply because of anastomosis between different vessels.Anastomosis occur between the septal branches of sphenopalatine artery, greater palatine artery, superior labial artery and the anterior ethmoidal artery.Among the vessels taking part in the anastomosis, the anterior ethmoidal artery is the branch of ophthalmic artery from the internal carotid system while the other vessels are from the external carotid system. The main artery of epistaxis known as sphenopalatine artery and also the greater palatine artery are the branches of internal maxillary artery which is a terminal branch of external carotid artery. Superior labial is a branch of facial artery which is a branch of external carotid.