FACE AND FRONTAL REGION OF HEAD 141 



which will be more appropriately studied in the dissection of 

 the nasal cavities, two cartilaginous plates will be found 

 upon each side. These are : 



1. The lateral cartilage. 



2. The cartilage of the ala. 



The lateral cartilage is a triangular plate which, by its 

 posterior margin, is attached to the lower border of the 

 nasal bone and the upper part of the sharp margin of the 

 nasal notch of the maxilla. In the median plane this cartilage 



r~External nasal nerve 

 3r Lateral cartilage 



Minor alar cartilages 

 Major alar cartilage 



FIG. 65. Cartilages of the Nose. 



becomes continuous with its fellow of the opposite side, and 

 also with the subjacent anterior border of the septal cartilage 

 of the nose. Below, there is a slight interval between the 

 two lateral cartilages, in which is seen the margin of the 

 nasal septal cartilage. The inferior border of the lateral 

 cartilage is connected with the lateral part of the alar 

 cartilage by some dense fibrous tissue. 



The alar cartilage is bent upon itself and folded round the 

 orifice of the nostril anteriorly and laterally. Posteriorly it 

 is deficient. The lateral part is oval, and does not reach 

 down to the margin of the nostril, nor posteriorly as far 

 as the nasal notch of the maxilla. The interval between 

 it and the bone is filled in by fibrous tissue in which one or 

 two small islands of cartilage (cartilagines minores vel sesa- 

 moideae) appear. Anteriorly, the bent part of cartilage comes 

 into contact with its neighbour and forms the point of the 



