Abstract: Objective To measure the elastic modulus of nasal cartilage, such as alar cartilage, lateral nasal and septal cartilage, and to provide data base for the analysis of mechanical behavior of nasal deformity. Methods Ten cases of adult cadavers were collected. The tensile test and compression test were carried out in every sample by test machine. The experimental data was analyzed by statistic method. Results The every test data was fitted with a straight line, and the elastic module of every sample was the slope of the fitted line. The elastic modules were obtained by least square method. The compression and tensile modules of alar cartilage were (1.142±0.336) MPa and (4.679±1.641) MPa. The compression and tensile modules of lateral cartilage were (5.84±1.246) MPa and (8.601±2.131) MPa. The compression and tensile modules of septal cartilage were (3.85±1.685) MPa and (6.907±1.621) MPa. Conclusion Tensile modulus of nasal cartilage is generally larger than compression modulus; Elastic modulus of lateral nasal cartilage is larger than elastic modulus of septal cartilage, and elastic modulus of septal cartilage is larger than elastic modulus of alar cartilage; Comparing to the other load cartilage and bony structure in human body, the elastic module of nasal cartilages is lower.

Key words: Nose, Cartilage, Elastic modulus, Biomechanics