alar cartilage malposition

a·lar cartilage malposition

a common anatomic variation in which the lateral crus of the alar cartilage is rotated cephalically, so that its long axis lies along a line that extends toward the medial canthus of the eye (rather than the lateral canthus); this abnormal position creates a boxy or rounded tip lobule (usually associated with alar wall grooves or so-called parentheses) and thus offering decreased support at the external nasal valve.
See also: external nasal valve.

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