The aim of this study was to elucidate the thickness of the septal cartilage relating to septal advancement surgery. Fourteen Korean adult cadavers were used. A rectangular coordinate was used, with the x-axis horizontal on the maxillary crest and the y-axis a vertical right angle to the x-axis on the anterior nasal spine. The length and the height of the septal cartilages were divided evenly in 5 dimensions, and the thickness was measured of intersecting points of grating.The mean length and height of the cartilaginous septum was 3.31 +/- 0.53 and 2.99 +/- 0.47 cm, respectively. The thickness of the septal cartilage varied according to the site (0.74-3.03 mm). The thickest area was the septal base (0% of the septal height) anterior to the vomer (2.19-3.03 mm). The thinnest area (0.74-0. 97 mm) was just above the base area at 20% of the septal height. The anterior-inferior part of the site above the thinnest area was 1.03 to 1.22 mm in thickness and the superior-posterior part was 1.26 to 1.50 mm. The anterior-inferior part was thinner than the superior-posterior one.The thickness map of the nasal septum might be usefully applied in septal surgery, particularly in septal advancement.