A septum piercing is often incorrectly regarded as a cartilage piercing. Septum: The piece of tissue in the middle of the nose separating the two nostrils.Depending on anatomy, the piercer, and the preference of the client, the septum piercing may or may not go through cartilage. Both nostrils are pierced, as well as the septum.

Nasallang: A set of three piercings connected by one piece of jewelry, usually a barbell.Nose Tip: A piercing that begins within either nostril and exits at the tip of the nose.High Nostril: A piercing placed further towards the top of the nose, much closer to the bone than a standard nostril piercing.Nostril: A piercing passing through the nostril on either side and ending in the inside of the nose.Antitragus: A small knub of cartilage just above the earlobe and across from the tragus.Tragus: The small, thick flap of cartilage directly over the ear canal, connected to the head.With a correctly placed daith, the entrance and exit holes will be unseen and the jewelry will appear to be coming out of the ear canal itself. Daith: The small flap of cartilage just above the ear canal.Outer Conch: The relatively flat area between the rim that forms the helix and the ridge that defines the antihelix.Inner Conch: The cup-shaped portion of the ear directly in front of the ear canal, used for capturing sound.Conch: Can refer to a piercing of either the inner or outer conch.A snug piercing also has a unique appearance as the cartilage is pierced from one side to the other, rather than from front to back. Snug: The lower ridge of cartilage of the antihelix.For most people, a rook piercing through a prominent ridge of cartilage will give the jewelry a vertical appearance as the piercing goes from top to bottom of the surface. Rook: The upper ridge of cartilage of the antihelix between the tragus and apex of the helix.Antihelix: The raised ridge of cartilage between the helix and ear canal.

Industrial: Two piercings joined by a single piece of jewelry, usually a barbell, commonly with one piercing in the helix and the other in the forward helix, though other multiple-piercing placements may still be termed industrials.

Forward Helix: The area of the helix closest to the head generally any piercing between the apex of the helix and where the helix joins the head.

Helix: The outer rim of cartilage on the ear, extending from just above the lobe to its apex and then curving down slightly to meet the head.

The cartilage ear piercing is known to be more sore than the lobe as in the cartilage there is less blood so it takes longer to heal (typically anywhere from 4-12 months). Many people outside of the body modification community often informally use the term 'cartilage piercing' to refer a helix piercing. The two most common areas with cartilage piercings are the ear and the nose. A cartilage piercing can refer to any area of cartilage on the body with a perforation created for the purpose of wearing jewelry.

Helix cartilage piercing