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Topic

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Greater alar cartilage

The greater alar cartilage, also known as the lower lateral nasal cartilage, is a paired, flexible cartilage structure forming the framework of the nasal tip and nostrils. Each cartilage has a medial crus, a lateral crus, and a dome region, which collectively shape the nostril rim, nasal tip projection, and columella contour. The medial crus of the two cartilages converge to support the columella, while the lateral crus extends laterally beneath the skin to form the alar rim. The cartilage is covered by perichondrium and nasal soft tissue, providing both structural support and elasticity. Its morphology is highly variable among individuals, influencing nostril shape, nasal tip rotation, and cosmetic appearance.

Synonyms

  • Lower lateral nasal cartilage

  • Alar cartilage

  • Cartilago alaris major

Function

  • Provides structural support to the nasal tip and nostrils

  • Maintains nostril shape and airway patency

  • Serves as a key determinant of nasal tip projection and rotation

  • Acts as a flexible framework accommodating minor trauma and surgical modifications

MRI Appearance
T1-weighted images:

  • Appears as a thin, low-to-intermediate signal structure beneath subcutaneous soft tissue

  • Surrounded by hyperintense subcutaneous fat, which enhances visualization of its borders

  • Cartilage abnormalities, such as deformities or surgical changes, may appear as disrupted low-signal continuity

T2-weighted images:

  • Cartilage is slightly hyperintense or intermediate, while surrounding fat appears bright

  • Useful for detecting edema, inflammatory changes, or post-traumatic alterations

STIR (Short Tau Inversion Recovery):

  • Suppresses surrounding fat signal, highlighting edema or soft tissue pathology

  • Normal cartilage appears hypointense, while inflammation or surgical alterations appear hyperintense

CT Appearance

  • On CT, greater alar cartilage appears as a soft tissue density structure at the nasal tip and lateral nasal walls

  • Surrounding air within the nasal vestibule appears hypodense (black), providing natural contrast

  • Cartilage is visible as slightly less dense than bone, allowing differentiation from bony nasal structures

MRI images

Greater alar cartilage mri axial image -img-00000-00000

MRI images

Greater alar cartilage mri sag image -img-00000-00000