FISTULA

fistula, sinus

(noun) an abnormal passage leading from a suppurating cavity to the body surface

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

fistula (plural fistulas or fistulae or fistulæ)

(medicine) An abnormal connection or passageway between organs or vessels that normally do not connect.

(rare) A tube, a pipe, or a hole.

(Christianity, historical) The tube through which the wine of the Eucharist was once sucked from the chalice.

Synonym: calamus

Usage notes

• (medicine): The skin is regarded as an organ, so the definition includes the abnormal connection of an internal organ to the body's exterior (as in, for example, enterocutaneous fistulas).

• Sometimes, a fistula will be intentionally created; for example, an arteriovenous fistula is sometimes created to ease the treatment of a patient with end stage renal failure.

Synonyms

• (tube): pipe, tube

Source: Wiktionary


Fis"tu*la, n.; pl. Fistulæ. Etym: [L.]

1. A reed; a pipe.

2. A pipe for convejing water. [Obs.] Knight.

3. (Med.)

Definition: A permanent abnormal opening into the soft parts with a constant discharge; a deep, narrow, chronic abscess; an abnormal opening between an internal cavity and another cavity or the surface; as, a salivary fistula; an anal fistula; a recto-vaginal fistula. Incomplete fistula (Med.), a fistula open at one end only.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

6 March 2025

LEPTOMENINGES

(noun) the two innermost layers of the meninges; cerebrospinal fluid circulates between these innermost layers


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

Coffee dates back to the 9th century. Goat herders in Ethiopia noticed their goats seem to be “dancing” after eating berries from a particular shrub. They reported it to the local monastery, and a monk made a drink out of it. The monk found out he felt energized and kept him awake at night. That’s how the first coffee drink was born.

coffee icon