Anastomosis

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ənæstəˈməʊsɪs/

Definitions

1. A surgical or natural connection between two tubular structures, such as blood vessels or sections of intestine
2. A connection formed between two tubular structures, often seen in biology and medicine, can occur naturally or through surgical procedures
3. The formation of a junction or link between two tubular entities, which may be either a natural occurrence or a result of surgical intervention

Etymology: The Greek word "anastomōsis" meant something quite literal: a making of a mouth. It was built from "ana-", meaning "up" or "again," and "stoma," meaning "mouth," with the verb "anastomoō" meaning to furnish with a mouth or outlet. Ancient Greek writers applied it to openings and channels, and the idea of two passages meeting through an opening is already built into the word. The English term follows that same logic. A junction between two tubes, such as blood vessels, nerves or river channels, is literally a shared mouth, which is why the word fits so neatly to the surgeon's work of joining vessels together. Its modern sense is a specialist one, applied mostly in anatomy, medicine and botany, rather than in everyday speech.