Septaation

Septation is the biological process by which septa, or internal walls, are formed to partition spaces within cells, tissues, or organs. The term is used across multiple disciplines, with notable examples in microbiology, mycology, and anatomy.

In bacteria, septation refers to the division process during cytokinesis. A contractile ring of proteins constricts the cell center, directing synthesis of a septal wall that splits the cytoplasm and yields two daughter cells.

In filamentous fungi, septation partitions hyphae into individual compartments. Septa are cross-walls that can contain pores, allowing communication and transport between adjacent cells while maintaining separation of compartments.

In vertebrate development, septation describes the formation of internal partitions within organs or vessels. The best known example is cardiac septation, which forms the atrial and ventricular septa to separate blood streams. Abnormal septation can cause congenital heart defects, such as atrial or ventricular septal defects, or septal malformations in other organs.

Septation also occurs in other contexts, including embryology and anatomy, where tissue rearrangements produce walls that divide cavities or limbs during growth. The study of septation emphasizes how walls or barriers emerge to regulate flow, diffusion, and compartmentalization, enabling complex structure and function.