In this chapter we'll
discuss the nasal septum. The septum, as you know, is a wall between the
left and right sides of the nose. The picture above left shows the septum as
the white structure in the midline. In the diagram above right, the septum
is pink and the lower lateral cartilages are green.
The cartilage of the
septum is covered on each side by the same soft, pink tissue that lines the
inside of your mouth. That tissue is called mucosa. In the
photographs above, the mucosa has been elevated off of the septum so all you see
is the bare white cartilage.
The septum pictured
above is straight and does not interfere with the airflow through this person's
nose. If the septum is off center, or "deviated," it can cause
an airway obstruction.
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