anastomosis

American  

[uh-nas-tuh-moh-sis] / əˌnæs təˈmoʊ sɪs /

noun

plural

anastomoses

1. Anatomy. communication between blood vessels by means of collateral channels, especially when usual routes are obstructed.

2. Biology, Geology. connection between parts of any branching system, as veinlets in a leaf or branches of a stream.

3. Surgery, Pathology. a joining of or opening between two organs or spaces that normally are not connected.

---

anastomosis British  

/ əˌnæstəˈməʊsɪs, əˌnæstəˈmɒtɪk /

noun

1. a natural connection between two tubular structures, such as blood vessels

2. the surgical union of two hollow organs or parts that are normally separate

3. the separation and rejoining in a reticulate pattern of the veins of a leaf or of branches

---

Other Word Forms

• anastomotic adjective

Etymology

Origin of anastomosis

1605–15; < New Latin < Greek: opening. See ana-, stoma, -osis

Example Sentences

This had a repertoire of stitches, knots and manoeuvres that permitted it to plan and carry out a procedure, known as anastomosis, which involves sewing together two parts of a bodily tube.

From Economist • May 4, 2016

The right and left anterior cerebral arteries join together to form an anastomosis called the anterior communicating artery.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

In addition, an arteriovenous anastomosis may bypass the capillary bed and lead directly to the venous system.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

"Oh," I said, "you're going to do an end-to-end anastomosis."

From Time Magazine Archive

A similar anastomosis may take place in the roots.

From Vegetable Teratology An Account of the Principal Deviations from the Usual Construction of Plants by Masters, Maxwell T.