Nasal septum
Bones and cartilages of septum of nose. Right side.
Latin	septum nasi
Gray's	subject #223 993
Artery	anterior ethmoidal posterior ethmoidal sphenopalatine greater palatine branch of superior labial[1]
Nerve	anterior ethmoidal nasopalatine[1]
MeSH	Nasal+septum

The nasal septum separates the left and right airways in the nose, dividing the two nostrils.

It is depressed by the Depressor septi nasi muscle.

Composition [edit]

The fleshy external end of the nasal septum is sometimes also called columella. The nasal septum contains bone and hyaline cartilage.^[2]

The nasal septum is composed of five structures:

• perpendicular plate of ethmoid bone
• vomer bone
• cartilage of the septum
• crest of the maxillary bone
• crest of the palatine bone

References [edit]

Saladin, Kenneth S. Anatomy and Physiology. 6th ed. New York, NY: McGraw Hill, 2012. 856. Print.

Clinical significance [edit]

The nasal septum can depart from the centre line of the nose in a condition is known as a deviated septum caused by trauma. However, it is normal to have a slight deviation to one side. The septum generally stays in the midline until about the age of 7, at which point it will frequently deviate to the right.

A perforated nasal septum can be caused by an ulcer, trauma due to an inserted object, excessive nose-picking, long-term exposure to welding fumes,^[1] or cocaine use. There is a procedure that can be of help to those suffering from perforated septum. A silicone button can be inserted in the hole to close the open sore. An operation to the nasal septum is known as a septoplasty.

The nasal septum can be affected by both benign (fibroma, inflammatory hemangioma of the nasal septum - "bleeding polyp" etc.) and malign tumors (squamous cell carcinoma, esthesioneuroblastoma etc.)

Cosmetic procedures [edit]

The inferior part of the nasal septum can be pierced, usually through the soft tissue but the piercing can also transverse (partially) the cartilage of the septum.

Additional images [edit]

• 

  Horizontal section of nasal and orbital cavities.

• 

  Left orbicularis oculi, seen from behind.

• 

  Cartilages of the nose, seen from below.

• 

  Coronal section of nasal cavities.

• 

  Front of nasal part of pharynx, as seen with the laryngoscope.

• 

  MRI image showing nasal septum.

• 

  MRI image showing deviated septum

See also [edit]

• Nasal septum piercing

References [edit]

1. ^ Nasal Septum Perforation of Welders, Choong Ryeol Lee, Cheol In Yoo, Ji Ho Lee, Seong Kyu Kang. Journal of Industrial Health. Volume 40, Number 3. p 286-289. Last accessed April 2, 2009.

External links [edit]

• Nasal+septum at eMedicine Dictionary
• SUNY Figs 33:02-01 - "Diagram of skeleton of medial (septal) nasal wall."
• Diagram at evmsent.org
• lesson9 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (nasalseptumbonescarti)

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