what is hyphae made of

Hyphae are long, branching, filamentous structures found in fungi, oomycetes, and actinobacteria. They are the main mode of vegetative growth in most fungi and are composed of protoplasm, which is the living content of the cell, and a protective cell wall typically made of chitin. The hyphae contain internal septa, which serve to divide the cells and allow cellular organelles to pass between cells via large pores. The average size of hyphae is approximately 4 to 6 microns. There are different types of hyphae, including generative, skeletal, and binding hyphae, each with distinct characteristics such as thickness of the cell wall, presence of septa, and branching patterns. Hyphae can form a network called a mycelium, which is the thallus (body) of the fungus. The thin, filamentous hyphal structure allows for maximal surface area and contact with the food substrate, which is important for the fungis feeding strategy of externally digesting food and absorbing the digested nutrients. Some hyphae have walls (septa) between the cells, while others lack walls and cell membranes between the cells/02%3A_Biodiversity_(Organismal_Groups)/2.03%3A_Fungi/2.3.02%3A_Characteristics_of_Fungi).