obturator

American  

[ahb-ter-ayt-er] / ˈɑb tərˌeɪt ər /

noun

• obturators
  plural

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

Derived Forms

• transobturator
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• obturators
  plural

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

obturator obturators

The Lumbar plexus includes four nerves located in the upper and mid leg: The obturator, the femoral, muscular branches of the femoral, and the saphenous.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015

The large opening in the anteroinferior hip bone between the ischium and pubis is the obturator foramen.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

Many curious forms of obturator or artificial palate are employed to remedy congenital defects.

From Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine by Walter L. (Walter Lytle) Pyle

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 A Manual of the Operations of Surgery For the Use of Senior Students, House Surgeons, and Junior Practitioners by Joseph Bell

The larger ventral part arises directly from the anterior and ventral edges of the obturator foramen.

From Myology and Serology of the Avian Family Fringillidae A Taxonomic Study by William B. Stallcup

These bolts were driven outside, and obturators wadded with indiarubber corked up the hole that let them through.

From The Moon-Voyage by Jules Verne