In biology, a septum (Latin for something that encloses; pl.: septa) is a wall, dividing a cavity or structure into smaller ones. A cavity or structure divided in this way may be referred to as septate.

Examples edit

Human anatomy edit

  • Interatrial septum, the wall of tissue that is a sectional part of the left and right atria of the heart
 
 
The lingual septum can be seen running vertically through the center of the tongue.
  • Nasal septum: the cartilage wall separating the nostrils of the nose
 
Alveolar septa (AS)

Histological septa are seen throughout most tissues of the body, particularly where they are needed to stiffen soft cellular tissue, and they also provide planes of ingress for small blood vessels. Because the dense collagen fibres of a septum usually extend out into the softer adjacent tissues, microscopic fibrous septa are less clearly defined than the macroscopic types of septa listed above. In rare instances, a septum is a cross-wall. Thus it divides a structure into smaller parts.

Cell biology edit

The septum (cell biology) is the boundary formed between dividing cells in the course of cell division.

 
Septins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Fungus edit

 
Septate hyphae of the fungus Alternaria, showing the septa between individual cells
  • A partition dividing filamentous hyphae into discrete cells in fungi.

Botany edit

 
A tomato has septa that divide the fruit into chambers (locules) that contain the seeds.

Zoology edit

A coral septum is one of the radial calcareous plates in the corallites of a coral.[1]

Annelids have septa that divide their coelom into segmented chambers.

Many shelled organisms have septa subdividing their shell chamber, including rhizopods, cephalopods and gastropods, the latter seemingly serving as a defence against shell-boring predators.[2][3]

Laboratory technology edit

  • A rubber septum is an engineered membrane that permits transfer of a substance (usually liquid or gas) without contact with air, usually using a syringe with needle.

References edit

  1. ^ Scrutton, Colin (12 May 1998). "The Palaeozoic corals, II: Structure, variation and palaeoecology". Research Gate.
  2. ^ Ishikawa, Makiko; Kase, Tomoki; Tsutsui, Hidekazu (2018). "Deciphering deterministic factors of predation pressures in deep time". Scientific Reports. 8 (1): 17532. Bibcode:2018NatSR...817532I. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-35505-1. PMC 6277388. PMID 30510248.
  3. ^ Vermeij, Geerat J. (1982). "Unsuccessful Predation and Evolution". The American Naturalist. 120 (6): 701–720. doi:10.1086/284025. S2CID 84610680.