wall that separates the nostrils?

Answer 1

It's called the septum

Answer 2

It is normal to breathe through one nostril. Usually nostrils then "change over". If you are concerned though, it may be an idea to get it all checked out. I understand there are beliefs to what it means when you breathe through one nostril and it is an important part of some meditation practices

Answer 3

Anatomy of the Nose

http://www.polychondritis.com/Nasal_Anatomy/NasalAnatomy.html

The nose is part of the respiratory system. Its only structure forms part of the skull. The bones of the external nose consist, on each side, of a nasal bone and the maxilla. The framework of the nostrils is made of cartilage, while the nasal septum, which separates the nostrils in the midline, is part bone and part cartilage. The visible part of the nose is supported by cartilage and is only the front opening of the nasal cavity. The nasal septum divides the nasal cavity through the middle, and is formed by septal cartilage at the tip and by bone closer to the skull.

When the septal cartilage is curved in septal deviation, half of the nasal cavity may be narrowed although the nose still looks symmetrical.

Inside, the nose contains cavities which form part of respiratory tract. The nose serves to warm and humidify inhaled air, and to filter out particles of dust. Air is normally breathed into and out of the body through the nose, via the nostrils. The nostrils are guarded by hairs (vibrissae) whose function is to prevent entry by insects and larger particles of dust. The inner surface of the nostril is covered by skin with coarse hairs that trap dust from air that has been drawn in (inspired). The remainder of the nasal cavity is lined by mucous membrane with many blood vessels and mucus secreting glands. Blood heat warms up inhaled air, while the moist sticky mucus traps more dust.

The nostrils lead to nasal cavities, one on each side, which in turn lead to the pharynx and then to the voice box (larynx) and windpipe (trachea).The nasal cavities are also connected to the paranasal sinuses and receive drainage of tear fluid through the nasolacrimal ducts; the Eustachian tubes connect the ears to the pharynx. In each nasal cavity three curved structures known as conchae (also known as turbinates), project out form each side wall. These increase the surface area of the cavity, exposing inspired air to a greater amount of warm, moist surface due to a rich supply of blood vessels.

The bones surrounding the nasal cavities are the vomer and portions of the frontal, ethmoid, maxillary and sphenoid bones. The floor of the nasal cavities forms the roof of the palate. The two nasal cavities are separated by a partition called nasal septum, which is commonly deviated to one side, thereby enlarging one nasal cavity at the expense of the other.

Most of each nostril cavity is lined by a specialized type of mucous membrane called respiratory mucosa. This is characterized by the presence of cilia, which are minute hairs that waft foreign particles on a sheet of mucus towards the nasopharynx. In the upper region of each nasal cavity, the mucus membranes changes to olfactory mucosa, containing specialized nerve cells for the exception of smell. Glands of the mucous membrane produce watery secretion which both protect the walls of the nasal cavity and is evaporated to humidify the inspired air. A small area of the roof of the nasal cavity is supplied (innervated) by the olfactory nerve for smell.


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This page was last updated: March 7, 2006
Deviation 1...Much of the airflow through the nose occurs through the narrow space between the septum and the inferior turbinate.A common cause of nasal airway obstruction is called a nasal septal deviation. This is a view of the nasal passage with the external nose removed. The septum can narrow his space on one side if it is deviated to that side. A ridge of bone that can often narrow the opposite side is seen.
©1999 Peter Casano, M.D.
The Septum...The nasal septum separates the left and right nasal airway. The yellow portion is made of flexible cartilage, the quadrangular cartilage. The blue portion is thin bone, the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone. The purple portion is thicker bone, the vomer bone.
©1999 Peter Casano, M.D.

Deviation 2... The inferior turbinates tend to grow to fill the available space.Long standing septal deviations can cause the inferior turbinate to enlarge on the concave side of the deviation.

Often, the concave side of the deviation seems more obstructed to the patient. This may be from an enlarged turbinate or from turbulent air-flow on this side.Several methods are available to reduce the size of enlarged turbinates and increase the available breathing space.

©1999 Peter Casano, M.D.

Answer 4

I don't know what it is called but I am glad to have it. If one nostril is clogged thank God for the other. And would you not prefer to see two little boogers, than one great big booger.

Answer 5

That there's your "septum nasi", or nasal septum. Here's a picture of an adorned one:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Septum_and_labret.jpg

Answer 6

I thought it was the vomer and hyaline cartilage.

Answer 7

septum