Fistula

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Fistula \Fis"tu*la\ (?; 135), n.; pl. {Fistul[ae]}. [L.]
     1. A reed; a pipe.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A pipe for convejing water. [Obs.] --Knight.
        [1913 Webster]


  
     3. (Med.) A permanent abnormal opening into the soft parts
        with a constant discharge; a deep, narrow, chronic
        abscess; an abnormal opening between an internal cavity
        and another cavity or the surface; as, a salivary fistula;
        an anal fistula; a recto-vaginal fistula.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {Incomplete fistula} (Med.), a fistula open at one end only.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  fistula
       n 1: a chronic inflammation of the withers of a horse [syn: {fistulous
            withers}]
       2: an abnormal passage leading from a suppurating cavity to the
          body surface [syn: {sinus}]
       [also: {fistulae} (pl)]