meatus

[ mee-ey-tuhs ]

noun

, Anatomy.

, plural me·a·tus·es, me·a·tus.

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 Words From

• me·atal 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

Example Sentences

On rare occasions, a false meatus can be located just above the normal one.

From Salon

Transmission in External Ear.—The external ear consists of the pinna, or auricle, and the external auditory meatus, or canal, at the bottom of which we find the membrana tympani, or drum head.

From Project Gutenberg

When suppuration has actually taken place the abscess should be immediately opened to prevent further destruction of the gland-tissue and perforation into the external auditory meatus.

From Project Gutenberg

Stitching pain at lobe of left ear and deep in and above external auditory meatus.

From Project Gutenberg

Try the experiment—stop the meatus auditorius with beeswax, and try it, for half a dozen Sabbaths, even with the knowledge, that you can remove the impediment at will, which I cannot!

From Project Gutenberg