meatus

American  

[mee-ey-tuhs] / miˈeɪ təs /

noun

Anatomy.

• meatuses,
  plural
• meatus
  plural

1. an opening or foramen, especially in a bone or bony structure, as the opening of the ear or nose.

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meatus British  

/ mɪˈeɪtəs /

noun

1. anatomy a natural opening or channel, such as the canal leading from the outer ear to the eardrum

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• meatal
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• meatus
  plural
• meatuses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of meatus

1655–65; < Latin meātus course, channel, equivalent to meā ( re ) to go, extend, have a course + -tus suffix of v. action

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

meatus meatuses

In my case, the fracture tore through the meatus, cutting my inner ear off from the outside world.

From Slate ● Oct. 13, 2021

Specifically, I’d like to acquaint you with the internal auditory meatus.

From Slate ● Oct. 13, 2021

The final opening of the urethra is called the meatus.

From Salon ● Jul. 15, 2018

Openings here include the large foramen magnum, plus the internal acoustic meatus, jugular foramina, and hypoglossal canals.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

Auditory bulla completely ossified, perforated on the inner side by the carotid canal, and continued externally into an elongated bony meatus auditorius, with its aperture directed upwards and backwards.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 10 "Echinoderma" to "Edward" by Various

The nasal passages contain the conchae and meatuses that expand the surface area of the cavity, which helps to warm and humidify incoming air, while removing debris and pathogens.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

To these symptoms were added, almost immediately, itching in the auditory meatuses and the secretion of a thin fluid in the previously dry nasal passages.

From Psychotherapy by James J. (James Joseph) Walsh