Final answer:
In medical terminology, the combining form 'sept/o' refers to 'septum', which designates a dividing wall in structures such as the heart. The heart contains the interatrial and interventricular septa, which separate the atria and ventricles, respectively, crucial for proper blood flow and circulation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The CF (combining form) sept/o refers to the term septum, which in medical terminology signifies a wall or partition that divides a space or cavity, such as the heart chambers. More specifically, the heart contains two major septa: the interatrial septum and the interventricular septum. The interatrial septum separates the atria (the two upper chambers of the heart), while the interventricular septum divides the ventricles (the two lower chambers). The septa are key to maintaining efficient circulation by directing the flow of blood through different chambers and preventing the mixture of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood.
For example, during fetal development, the foramen ovale is an opening in the interatrial septum, allowing blood to bypass the pulmonary circuit. Post birth, this opening is closed by the septum primum, a tissue flap, thus establishing normal cardiac circulation. Septal defects such as Tetralogy of Fallot involve the presence of an opening in the interventricular septum and can lead to serious health issues, sometimes requiring surgical intervention.