Nasal septum: vomer, cartilage and supporting role
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Quick facts
- Definition
- Wall that divides the nasal cavity into right and left, made of bone and cartilage.
- Components
- Perpendicular plate of the ethmoid, vomer and septal cartilage.
- Function
- Supports the dorsum and tip of the nose and organizes airflow.
- Relevance in facial harmonization
- Deviation alters shape and breathing; filler does not correct a deviated septum.
The nasal septum is the wall that separates the nose into two cavities, right and left. It is, at once, a divider of airflow and a supporting beam of the nose: the stability of the dorsum and tip depends on it. It has a bony part, at the back, and a cartilaginous part, at the front.
What is the septum made of?
Three main components make up the structure:
| Component | Nature | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Perpendicular plate of the ethmoid | Bony | Upper and posterior part |
| Vomer | Bony | Lower and posterior part |
| Septal cartilage | Cartilaginous | Anterior part, connected to the other cartilages of the nose |
The septal cartilage attaches to the nasal bone above and to the base of the maxilla below. In front, it ends in contact with the tip cartilages and with the columella, the strip between the nostrils. This continuity explains why septal changes affect the external shape.
What is its structural function?
The cartilaginous part of the septum works as a T-shaped support between the dorsum and the tip. It helps determine nasal projection and holds up the angle between the nose and the lip. When the septum is strong and well positioned, the tip keeps its projection; when it is weak, displaced or damaged, the tip can lose support.
The septum also organizes breathing. It divides the air entering through the nostrils and keeps both passages open. A significant deviation can narrow one of the passages and cause obstruction, snoring and frequent infections.
What is a deviated septum?
The septum is rarely perfectly straight. Mild deviations are common and often asymptomatic. When the deviation is marked, there can be nasal obstruction and asymmetry of the external shape, especially if it involves the anterior part, which supports the tip. It can be congenital or the result of trauma.
Correcting the deviation is surgical and follows a specialist assessment, generally by an otolaryngologist. Surgery of the septum is called septoplasty and, when combined with aesthetic modification of the nose, forms septorhinoplasty. It differs from purely aesthetic rhinoplasty, although the two can be done together.
Why does this matter for facial harmonization?
Nonsurgical rhinoplasty with filler works on the structure that already exists and cannot correct a deviation or replace the support of the septum. In patients with a displaced septum, trying to camouflage the shape with product can create asymmetry and pressure on the tissues, and the nose is a high vascular risk area.
Also called: nasal septum, cartilaginous and bony nasal septum.
Frequently asked questions
Does filler in the nose correct a deviated septum?
No. A deviated septum is a structural change that affects breathing and the shape of the nose. Filler only disguises contour irregularities, and the deviation calls for a specialist's assessment.