fornix

noun

for·​nix ˈfȯr-niks 

plural fornices ˈfȯr-nə-ˌsēz 

: an anatomical arch or fold: such as

a

: the junction where the conjunctiva lining the eyelid meets the conjunctiva overlying the sclera

b

: a body of nerve fibers lying beneath the corpus callosum with which they are continuous posteriorly and serving to integrate the hippocampus with other parts of the brain

c

: the vaulted upper part of the vagina surrounding the uterine cervix

Examples of fornix in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For example, try wearing a butt plug while stimulating your anterior fornix or A-spot, which is deeper than the G-spot and is located between the cervix and vaginal wall. —Amanda Chatel, Glamour, 9 Jan. 2025

Typically made from medical-grade silicone, menstrual discs are held in place by their rim in the vaginal fornix. —goodhousekeeping.com, 16 May 2023

The fornix, a tiny part of the brain, may hold some clues to memory loss. —Wissam Deeb, Discover Magazine, 23 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, going back to Latin, "arch, vault," perhaps a derivative from the same base as fornāx, furnāx "furnace, oven, kiln" — more at furnace

Note: Alternatively, fornix has been taken as one outcome of an Indo-European verbal base *d^hu̯er(h₁)- "diverge"—see discussion at Nomina im Indogermanischen Lexikon (Heidelberg, 2008), p. 132.

First Known Use

1681, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

fornix

noun

for·​nix ˈfȯr-niks 

plural fornices -nə-ˌsēz 

: an anatomical arch or fold: as

a

: the vault of the cranium

b

: the junction where the conjunctiva lining the eyelid meets the conjunctiva overlying the sclera

c

: a body of nerve fibers lying beneath the corpus callosum with which they are continuous posteriorly and serving to integrate the hippocampus with other parts of the brain

d

: the vaulted upper part of the vagina surrounding the uterine cervix

e

: the fundus of the stomach

f

: the vault of the pharynx