meatus

[mee-ey-tuhs]

noun

Anatomy.

plural

meatuses, meatus 

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

meatus

/ mɪˈeɪtəs /

noun

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

Other Word Forms

• meatal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of meatus¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of meatus¹

C17: from Latin: passage, from meāre to pass