obturator

American  

[ahb-ter-ayt-er] / ˈɑb tərˌeɪt ər /

noun

plural

obturators

1. Anatomy. either of the muscles, external and internal, covering the opening (obturator foramen) in the pelvis, formed by the pubis and ischium.

2. any of various devices used in surgery and dentistry to close or fill openings in the body, especially a prosthetic device used to close a gap in the palate.

3. Ordnance. a device, such as a cap or pad, to seal the breech of a gun during firing so as to prevent gas from escaping.

4. Botany. a tissue growth that closes an opening, such as one found in the ovary of some plants near the micropyle of an ovule.

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Other Word Forms

• transobturator adjective

Example Sentences

But he could be bold when necessary; he was the first to reduce a case of obturator hernia by abdominal section, and one of the first to practise lumbar colostomy.

From Project Gutenberg

He could speak well when the opening remaining after the removal of the hard palate was plugged, and he was in town to have an obturator made.

From Project Gutenberg

Anteriorly the fibers converge and form a strong tendon that passes through the obturator foramen and inserts on the posterolateral surface of the trochanter of the femur.

From Project Gutenberg

In some cases there is pain along the course of the obturator nerve.

From Project Gutenberg

Inwards then it must be; and little more need be said about it, were it not for the occasional existence of an abnormal course and distribution of the obturator artery.

From Project Gutenberg