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

4 February 2025

DISKETTE

(noun) a small plastic magnetic disk enclosed in a stiff envelope with a radial slit; used to store data or programs for a microcomputer; “floppy disks are noted for their relatively slow speed and small capacity and low price”


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

Brazil is the largest coffee producer in the world. Each year Brazil exports more than 44 million bags of coffee. Vietnam follows at exporting over 27 million bags each year.

coffee icon