Cartilagines nasi

The nasal cartilages are structures within the nose that provide form and support to the nasal cavity.

The nasal cartilages are made up of a flexible material called hyaline cartilage (packed collagen) in the distal portion of the nose.

There are five individual cartilages that make up the nasal cavity: septal nasal cartilage, lateral nasal cartilage, major alar cartilage (greater alar cartilage, or cartilage of the aperture), minor alar cartilage (lesser alar cartilage, sesamoid, or accessory cartilage), and vomeronasal cartilage (Jacobson's cartilage).

The nasal cartilages associate with other cartilage structures of the nose or with bones of the facial skeleton.

These associations create vent-like structures within the nose so that air can flow from the nasal cavity to the lungs or vice versa.

Therefore, the nasal cartilages are structures that aid the body in respiratory functions to intake oxygen or expire carbon dioxide. Abnormalities or defects in the nasal cartilages affect airflow through the nasal cavity, resulting in respiratory issues.

Surgical techniques have been produced to adjust the position or repair the nasal cartilages so that maximal airflow is once again accomplished.

Some of these surgical techniques include: septoplasty (restructuring the septal nasal cartilage), upper lateral cartilage repositioning (restructuring the lateral nasal cartilage), and sliding alar cartilage (restructuring the major alar cartilage).

Rhinoplasty, which is the surgical reconstruction of the nose, has increased in recent popularity for functional and social purposes. Other mammals also contain nasal cartilages in order to maintain structure and function for the nasal cavity.