septumista

A septum is a thin wall or partition that divides a cavity or structure into two parts. The term is used across biology and medicine to describe internal walls that create compartments.

In humans, prominent septa include the nasal septum, which divides the nasal cavity into left and right passages. It is formed mainly by the septal cartilage at the front and by the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid and the vomer in the back. The nasal septum helps regulate airflow and support the mucosa. Deviations or injuries can cause nasal obstruction, crusting, or epistaxis and may be treated with medical therapy or surgical straightening (septoplasty).

The heart contains several septa that partition the chambers: the interatrial septum between the atria and the interventricular septum between the ventricles. These septa ensure orderly blood flow and separate oxygenated from deoxygenated blood. Congenital defects such as atrial septal defect (ASD) or ventricular septal defect (VSD) can alter circulation and sometimes require intervention.

In microbiology and mycology, septa are cross walls within hyphae that divide a filament into cells. Most septa include pores that allow cytoplasm and organelles to move between compartments, enabling coordination of cellular processes. In plants, septa can delineate compartments within fruits, seeds, or other structures and may play roles in development and resource distribution.

The concept derives from Latin septum, meaning fence or partition, and appears in many disciplines with context-specific implications.