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stoma
[ stoh-muh ]
noun
- Zoology. a mouth or ingestive opening, especially when in the form of a small or simple aperture.
- Medicine/Medical. an artificial opening between two hollow organs or between one hollow organ and the outside of the body, constructed to permit the passage of body fluids or waste products.
stoma
/ stō′mə /
, Plural stomata stō′mə-tə
- Botany.One of the tiny openings in the epidermis of a plant, through which gases and water vapor pass. Stomata permit the absorption of carbon dioxide necessary for photosynthesis from the air, as well as the removal of excess oxygen. Stomata occur on all living plant parts that have contact with the air; they are especially abundant on leaves. A single leaf may have many thousands of stomata. Each stoma is generally between 10 to 30 microns in length and is surrounded by a pair of crescent-shaped cells, called guard cells. The guard cells can change shape and close the stoma in order to prevent the loss of water vapor.
- Botany.See Note at transpiration
- Zoology.A mouthlike opening, such as the oral cavity of a nematode.
- Medicine.A temporary or permanent opening in a body surface, especially the abdomen or throat, that is created by a surgical procedure, such as a colostomy or tracheostomy.
Other Words From
- stomal adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of stoma1
Word History and Origins
Origin of stoma1
Example Sentences
When I got to Euston, my stoma was falling off my stomach.
A young boy who was able to accept having a stoma after being given a cuddly toy is raising money to help other children in the same situation.
In total, she needed seven operations over five years to repair the damage, including having a stoma fitted and reversed.
Three years ago she needed an emergency stoma after part of her intestines had “shut down” and still has to “take a lot of pain medication” because of the number of operations she has needed.
She went on to have surgery but was left with a permanent stoma and PTSD.
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