septum

American  

[sep-tuhm] / ˈsɛp təm /

noun

Biology.

• septa
  plural

1. a dividing wall, membrane, or the like, in a plant or animal structure; dissepiment.

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septum British  

/ ˈsɛptəm /

noun

1. biology anatomy a dividing partition between two tissues or cavities

2. a dividing partition or membrane between two cavities in a mechanical device

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septum Scientific  

/ sĕp′təm /

• septa
  plural

1. A thin wall or membrane that separates two parts or structures in an organism. Septae separate the chambers of the heart and subdivide the hyphae of some fungi.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• septa
  plural

Etymology

Origin of septum

1710–20; < Latin sēptum, variant of saeptum enclosure, noun use of neuter of saeptus (past participle of saepīre to fence); akin to saepēs hedge, fence

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

septum septa

These findings are reshaping our understanding of how the brain processes rewards and have put the spotlight firmly on the lateral septum as the home of cravings.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 12, 2026

While a link between the lateral septum and another region called the hypothalamus is probably responsible for septal rage, the lateral septum links with many other regions with various functions.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 12, 2026

Nathan Cohen, a 19-year-old college sophomore, had a septorhinoplasty in late December to fix a deviated septum and slightly alter the tip of his nose.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 7, 2026

In the week before the implant-removal operation at Guy's Hospital in London, she said her septum "came apart" and would not stop bleeding.

From BBC ● Jan. 21, 2026

When my doctor told me that I had a really bad deviated septum, it seemed like a good excuse to go under the knife.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi

The fibers also lack internal walls called septa that often divide such tubes into cells.

From Scientific American ● Sep. 24, 2021

In most phyla of fungi, tiny holes in the septa allow for the rapid flow of nutrients and small molecules from cell to cell along the hypha.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015

This cavity is divided into several chambers by longitudinal septa called mesenteries.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015

They took cartilage cells from the patients’ nasal septa, grew them on a collagen membrane, shaped them according to the needs of the patient, and implanted the tissue back into the nose.

From Forbes ● Apr. 12, 2014

But the septa could not have known that today's court would be anything but the usual tedious business of hearing petitions, settling disputes between rival holdfasts, and adjudicating the placement of boundary stones.

From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin