septum
n.n. the thin wall of bone or cartilage that separates two parts of something. In your nose, it is the piece of tissue that divides your two nostrils.
n. a partition or wall of bone or cartilage that separates two cavities or structures. In anatomical contexts, it refers specifically to the nasal septum, which divides the nasal cavity into two halves.
The doctor checked the patient's nasal septum for any signs of infection.
During the surgery, the surgeon carefully realigned the nasal septum to improve the patient's breathing and appearance.
The structural integrity of the nasal septum is crucial for maintaining proper airflow and preventing chronic sinus infections, as it serves as the primary divider of the nasal passages.
Borrowed from Latin sēptum (“enclosure, wall, fence”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Last updated May 19, 2026