fallopian tube

noun, often capitalized F fal·lo·pi·an tube \ fə-ˈlō-pē-ən- \

|Updated on: 18 Jul 2018

Definition of fallopian tube

: either of the pair of tubes that carry the egg from the ovary to the uterus

Recent Examples of fallopian tube from the Web

According to the American Cancer Society, one prevailing theory is that small mineral particles could travel up through the fallopian tubes and ovaries, inflaming the tissue, which can encourage cancer growth.

— elizabeth inglese, Vogue, "Why Johnson & Johnson’s $4.7 Billion Baby Powder Lawsuit Is Important for Women Everywhere," 13 July 2018
The leading theory about how this goes awry in endometriosis is called retrograde menstruation: The endometrial tissue flows back through the fallopian tubes into the pelvic cavity.

— marie mccullough, Philly.com, "Frustrated endometriosis patients fuel surge in activism while seeking answers," 12 Apr. 2018
During ovulation, your uterus releases an egg from the ovary into the fallopian tube.

— hannah orenstein, Seventeen, "Here’s When You Should Take a Pregnancy Test," 13 Sep. 2017
When your body builds up enough estrogen and increases the amount of luteinizing hormone in your body, an egg is released and is carried into the fallopian tubes.

— tehrene firman, Woman's Day, "When Do Women Ovulate? Here's Everything You Need to Know," 13 June 2018
Most ovarian cancer starts in the fallopian tubes (the eggs’ pathway from the ovaries to the uterus).

— claire altschuler, chicagotribune.com, "Racing against cancer: New efforts to save lives with early detection," 21 May 2018
During a procedure that can be done in a doctor’s office, the coils are implanted in the fallopian tubes to scar them shut, preventing pregnancy.

— marie mccullough, Philly.com, "FDA: Essure sterilization device can't be sold without 'unique' warnings to patients," 9 Apr. 2018
In women, untreated gonorrhea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, which may result in scar tissue that blocks fallopian tubes and causes ectopic pregnancy, long-term pelvic or abdominal pain, or infertility.

— julie h. case, Woman's Day, "3 Sneaky Gonorrhea Symptoms in Women," 22 May 2017
For instance, women’s ovaries aren’t connected to their fallopian tubes, an evolutionary oversight that sometimes leads to eggs floating pointlessly out into the abdominal cavity.

— nathan h. lents, WSJ, "The Botch of the Human Body," 13 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fallopian tube.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.