Tech From Here: NL · Sources

Your ear is two materials

Tech From Here: NL · Dutch Design Week 2026

The work this post covers and every source it draws on, each linked to the original.

Research cited

  1. Wollina U, Goldman A, Machado Luz P, Guindani Marson V. Esthetic and reconstructive options for earlobe deformities. J Cutan Aesthet Surg 2025 pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. Feng M, Ahmed KH, Punjabi N, Inman JC. A contemporary review of trachea, nose, and ear cartilage bioengineering and additive manufacturing. Biomimetics 2024 pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Other sources

  1. OpenStax, Anatomy and Physiology 2e, §4.3 Connective Tissue Supports and Protects openstax.org
  2. Auricular Cartilage, Complete Anatomy elsevier.com

Images, slide by slide

Slide 1
Diagram of a right ear in side view with two piercings marked: a hoop through the rim, labeled elastic cartilage, and a stud in the lobe, labeled no cartilage, fat and connective tissueImage: RN Collins studio, code-drawn. Checked against OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 4.3 (elastic cartilage in the external ear); Feng et al. 2024, Biomimetics 9(6):327, PMC11202182 (helix; lobule lacks cartilage, connective tissue and fat); Wollina et al. 2025, J Cutan Aesthet Surg 18(1):7-15, PMC11866664 (earlobe lacks cartilage). Source lines drawn on the graphic
Slide 2
Labeled diagram of the outer ear, marked DiagramImage: RN Collins studio, code-drawn. Checked against OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 4.3 (elastic cartilage in the external ear); Feng et al. 2024, Biomimetics 9(6):327, PMC11202182 (helix, antihelix, tragus, concha; lobule lacks cartilage, connective tissue and fat); Wollina et al. 2025, J Cutan Aesthet Surg 18(1):7-15, PMC11866664 (earlobe lacks cartilage). Source lines drawn on the graphic
Slide 3
Labeled diagram marked Diagram: elastic cartilage from the rim and bowl of the ear, magnifiedImage: RN Collins studio, code-drawn. Checked against OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 4.3. Source line drawn on the graphic
Slide 4
Labeled diagram marked Diagram: the ear sliced from the rim down to the lobeImage: RN Collins studio, code-drawn. Checked against Wollina et al. 2025, J Cutan Aesthet Surg 18(1):7-15, PMC11866664 (earlobe lacks cartilage); Feng et al. 2024, Biomimetics 9(6):327, PMC11202182 (lobule: connective tissue and fat). Source lines drawn on the graphic
Slide 5
Labeled diagram marked Diagram: a blood vessel runs in the tissue around a patch of cartilage, and dashed arrows show nutrients diffusing through the matrix to the cartilage cellsImage: RN Collins studio, code-drawn. Checked against OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 4.3. Source line drawn on the graphic
Slide 6
Labeled diagram marked Diagram: two magnified swatches side by sideImage: RN Collins studio, code-drawn. Checked against OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 4.3; Wollina et al. 2025, J Cutan Aesthet Surg 18(1):7-15, PMC11866664; Feng et al. 2024, Biomimetics 9(6):327, PMC11202182. Source lines drawn on the graphic
Ring frame
Military radio receiver with open lid (Museum Verbindingsdienst)Frame: Alf van Beem, CC0, croppedMuseum or journal record
Quotes and video
RN's spoken lines in this post, from her own cameraRN's own footage, 16 Oct 2026, Hotel Mariënhage, Eindhoven

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