anastomosis

noun

anas·​to·​mo·​sis ə-ˌna-stə-ˈmō-səs 

plural anastomoses ə-ˌna-stə-ˈmō-ˌsēz 

1

: the union of parts or branches (as of streams, blood vessels, or leaf veins) so as to intercommunicate or interconnect

2

: a product of anastomosis : network

anastomotic

ə-ˌna-stə-ˈmä-tik 

adjective

Examples of anastomosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The researchers recruited 48 adults aged 20 to 65 who’d undergone one of four types of bariatric surgery (gastric banding, sleeve gastrectomy, one-anastomosis gastric bypass, or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass). — New Atlas, 13 Nov. 2025

The diameters of the jejunum and ileum remained stable, maintaining a favorable jejunum-to-ileum ratio, and the strength of the anastomosis improved. — The Salt Lake Tribune, 16 Aug. 2023

For their study, researchers from the same universities that developed the device enlisted 20 women to undergo lymphatico-venous anastomosis — a surgical procedure used to treat a common breast cancer surgery complication. — Mclean Bennett, Discover Magazine, 11 Feb. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, from Greek anastomōsis, from anastomoun to provide with an outlet, from ana- + stoma mouth, opening — more at stomach entry 1

First Known Use

1541, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for anastomosis

• amyloidosis
• anaplasmosis
• aponeurosis
• apotheosis
• aspergillosis
• blastomycosis
• coccidiosis
• cryptococcosis
• cysticercosis
• endocytosis
• exocytosis
• furunculosis

Medical Definition

anastomosis

noun

anas·​to·​mo·​sis ə-ˌnas-tə-ˈmō-səs  ˌan-əs- 

plural anastomoses -ˌsēz 

1

a

: a communication between or coalescence of blood vessels

b

: the surgical union of parts and especially hollow tubular parts

anastomosis of the ureter and colon is surgically practicable

2

: a product of anastomosis

especially : a network (as of channels or branches) produced by anastomosis

anastomotic

-ˈmät-ik 

adjective