Definition
noun, plural: orifices
An opening or aperture; any external opening in the body of an animal.
Supplement
In a typical mammalian body such as the human body, the body orifices are: nostrils, eyes, mouth, ear canals, anus, urethra, vagina, orifices of nipples, orifices of sweat glands, navel.
Other animals may have some other body orifices: cloaca in birds, reptiles, amphibians, and some other animals, and siphon in mollusca, arthropods, and some other animals.
Word origin: Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin orificium, compound of os, mouth + -ficium.
Related forms: orificial (adjective).
Related terms:
- anal orifice
- aortic orifice
- cardiac orifice
- orifice of external acoustic meatus
- orifice of inferior vena cava
- tricuspid orifice
- vaginal orifice
