external nasal valve


external nasal valve

a valvelike fold formed by the lateral crus of the alar (i.e., lower lateral) cartilage and its associated external and vestibular soft tissue coverings; a common cause of nasal airway obstruction when the valve is incompetent and the alar rim collapses during inspiration.

external nasal valve

The outermost opening of the nose (the alar rim).See also: valve