Septum

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A septum (plural septa), in Latin meaning "something that encloses", is a partition separating two cavities or two spaces containing a less dense material, such as the septum nasi between the nostrils or the septa separating each siphuncle, or chamber, in the shells of nautiloids, ammonites, and belemnites—all cephalopods that retained their external shell. Fungi produce walls, termed septa, to partion filamentous hyphae into discrete cells.

1 Histology
2 Chemistry
3 Particle accelerators
4 Brain physiology

[edit] Histology

Histological septa are seen throughout most tissues of the body, particularly where they are needed to stiffen a 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.

The septum is also found within the chambers of the heart. It provides strength to the walls of the heart and separates the left and right sides of the heart.

[edit] Chemistry

Septa are used to seal the two conical flasks. A cannula is used to transfer THF from the flask on the right to the flask on the left.

In chemistry and other experimental sciences, septa are rubber stoppers which are used to seal flasks or bottles. They are designed to be pierced by a needle or cannula which allows fluids to be transferred. Septa are often used together with Schlenk flasks and Schlenk lines to handle oxygen- or moisture-sensitive materials.

[edit] Particle accelerators

Septum magneta and electrostatic septum are two types of septa that can deflect an ejected beam while not affecting the orbiting beam. These devices are used with a circular particle beam accelerator to inject or eject a beam of particles to or from an accelerator.

[edit] Brain physiology

Part of the limbic system that regulates emotions and the ability to learn and control impulses as well as such drives as sex, hunger, thirst and aggression. The septum (or septal nuclei) in the brain is named for its approximate shape (partition). The septum is rich with nicotonic cholinergic receptors.