Nasal septum: an introduction
Nasal Septum is the wall which divides the nose into two distinctive halves, each ending into a nostril. It is made up of the depressor septi nasi muscles, the cartilage being the quadrangular cartilage. Both the nasal septum and the nasal cavities are lined with a particular type of membrane tissue known as mucosa. This demarcation of the nose into two halves is essential as the nose is considered to be the passage that leads the air that we breathe in into the pair of lungs. The nasal septum divides the nose from the middle enabling a part of the air we breathe in to go into the left lung while the remaining bit is taken in by the right lung thus maintaining a balance in operation. The nasal septum usually comprises of the vomer, the perpendicular ethmoid bone plate, septal cartilage, the maxillary crest and the premaxilla. This complex fleshy structure is also called the columella.
Till the tender age of seven years the nasal septum usually stays in the middle but gradually as the age is crossed it shifts slightly to the right. But further departure from the central placement is called a deviated septum. This can either be a childhood deformation resulting in a deformed nose while it could also result from trauma. This might lead to certain typical abnormalities like the excessive accumulation of the sinuses or mucus accumulation leading to the development of polyps; moreover the patient might also experience breathing difficulties and constant headaches. The many sleeping disorders like snoring and apnea are the commonest ailments that result from the shift of this passage that divides the nasal cavities. Bloody nose is yet another ill outcome of the sudden dislocation of the same. In most instances minor deviations go undetected. When the deviation is accompanied by pain does the person realize the change in their nose. At certain instances a hole appears in this structure, which is termed as the perforation of the nasal septum usually a result of ulcer or trauma. At times excessive nose picking can also amount to this problem where a silicon button is inserted to close the whole. Continuous cocaine intake can be highly injurious to the nasal septum amounting to operate the nasal septum; this specialized surgery is termed as septoplasty, though a minor surgery of about an hour the patient might require 2– 4 weeks to recover completely. Moreover it is worth noting that both benign and malign tumors can affect this fleshy part of the human body. Moreover at a smaller scale if these tissues (which are quite sensitive) get irritated due to viruses, bacteria or the like, the concerned person might develop post nasal drip, sinusitis or even nasal polyps.
The inferior portion of the naval septum, precisely the lower part of the structure can be pierced as the cartilage in that region is made up of softer tissues facilitating piercings but at certain instances these piercings could also the location of the cartilage.
