How does the outer nose remain supported by bone and cartilage?

The outer nose is supported by a combination of bone and cartilage. While the bony framework of the nose is part of the skull, this bone only provides support for the upper portion of the nose.1

Lower down, the shape of the nose is maintained by cartilaginous plates. Cartilage is a firm yet flexible connective tissue that is well-suited for supporting soft tissues and maintaining the structural shape of the nose while resisting compression. In the expanded lower part of the side of the nose, known as the ala, the structure consists of skin with fibrofatty tissue between the layers rather than bone or cartilage.12