Anastomoses definition | Dictionary.com

a⋅nas⋅to⋅mo⋅sis

[uh-nas-tuh-moh-sis]

–noun, plural -ses [-seez]

1.	Anatomy. communication between blood vessels by means of collateral channels, esp. when usual routes are obstructed.

2.	Biology, Geology. connection between parts of any branching system, as veinlets in a leaf or branches of a stream.

3.	Surgery, Pathology. a joining of or opening between two organs or spaces that normally are not connected.

Origin:
1605–15; < NL < Gk: opening. See ana-, stoma, -osis

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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a·nas·to·mose   (ə-nās'tə-mōz', -mōs') Pronunciation Key
v.   a·nas·to·mosed, a·nas·to·mos·ing, a·nas·to·mos·es

v.   tr.
To join by anastomosis.

v.   intr.
To be connected by anastomosis, as blood vessels.

[Back-formation from anastomosis.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

a·nas·to·mo·sis (ə-nās'tə-mō'sĭs) Pronunciation Key
n. pl. a·nas·to·mo·ses (-sēz)

The connection of separate parts of a branching system to form a network, as of leaf veins, blood vessels, or a river and its branches.
Medicine The surgical connection of separate or severed tubular hollow organs to form a continuous channel, as between two parts of the intestine.

[Late Latin anastomōsis, from Greek, outlet, from anastomoun, to furnish with a mouth : ana-, ana- + stoma, mouth.]

a·nas'to·mot'ic (-mŏt'ĭk) adj.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

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