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