The structure separating your left and right nasal airways is called the nasal septum.
Understanding the Nasal Septum
The nasal septum is a crucial part of your nasal anatomy. It's a wall of cartilage and bone that divides the inside of your nose into two separate chambers. This division allows for efficient airflow and filtering of air as you breathe.
- Composition: The nasal septum is comprised of both bone and hyaline cartilage. The septal cartilage, also known as the quadrilateral cartilage, is a key component.
- External Portion: The fleshy external tip of the nasal septum is called the columella or columella nasi. This is the visible part of the septum between your nostrils.
- Deviated Septum: A deviated septum occurs when this dividing wall is shifted off-center, causing one nasal passage to be smaller than the other. This can lead to breathing difficulties and other symptoms. This condition may be present at birth or result from a nasal injury.
Medical Considerations
Several medical resources discuss the nasal septum and related conditions:
- The Mayo Clinic provides information on deviated septums, detailing symptoms, causes, and treatment options. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/deviated-septum/symptoms-causes/syc-20351710
- Cleveland Clinic offers further details on deviated septums and their treatment. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16924-deviated-septum
- Numerous other medical websites such as Hopkins Medicine and NYU Langone Health explain this structure and associated medical issues.
