anastomosis

[uh-nas-tuh-moh-sis]

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

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of anastomosis¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of anastomosis¹

C16: via New Latin from Greek: opening, from anastomoun to equip with a mouth, from stoma mouth