fistula

noun fis·tu·la \ ˈfis-chə-lə , ˈfish- \

|Updated on: 5 May 2018

Definition of fistula

plural fistulas or fistulae play \ˈfis-chə-ˌlē, -ˌlī, ˈfish-\

: an abnormal passage that leads from an abscess or hollow organ or part to the body surface or from one hollow organ or part to another and that may be surgically created to permit passage of fluids or secretions

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Recent Examples of fistula from the Web

With the doctor’s aorta seemingly disintegrating, Narayan and Turner’s teams injected a high dose of purified OMKO1 in combination with the antibiotic ceftazidime directly into the fistula in his chest.

— beth mole, Ars Technica, "Virus fished from pond cures man’s deadly antibiotic-resistant infection," 20 Mar. 2018
Turner’s lab collected bacteria-laden discharge from a fistula that formed in the doctor’s chest and mixed it with phage.

— beth mole, Ars Technica, "Virus fished from pond cures man’s deadly antibiotic-resistant infection," 20 Mar. 2018
In these experiments on human chattel, Sims developed a technique to repair fistula, the first of its kind.

— daniela blei, The Atlantic, "Women Are Redesigning the Dreaded Speculum," 8 Mar. 2018
In 1845, James Marion Sims, a 32-year-old surgeon in Montgomery, Alabama, was asked by a local slave owner to treat a young woman suffering from vesicovaginal fistula.

— daniela blei, The Atlantic, "Women Are Redesigning the Dreaded Speculum," 8 Mar. 2018
Fluid that accumulated in Thomas' mouth drained through a small fistula Densmore created at the side of Thomas' neck.

— crocker stephenson, USA TODAY, "Surgery enabled the first American to survive birth without a trachea to breathe. Now he can eat.," 18 Dec. 2017
These inoperable desmoid tumors worked their way into my small bowel, establishing fistulas, or abnormal connections.

— denise teter, Philly.com, "A cancer survivor's new struggle: Holidays without eating," 8 Dec. 2017
Fluid that accumulated in Thomas' mouth drained through a small fistula Densmore created at the side of Thomas' neck.

— crocker stephenson, USA TODAY, "Surgery enabled the first American to survive birth without a trachea to breathe. Now he can eat.," 18 Dec. 2017
Fluid that accumulated in Thomas' mouth drained through a small fistula Densmore created at the side of Thomas' neck.

— crocker stephenson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Surgery enabled the first American to survive birth without a trachea to breathe. Now he can eat.," 16 Oct. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of fistula

Middle English, from Latin, pipe, fistula

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Other Medicine Terms

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Medical Dictionary

fistula

noun fis·tu·la \ ˈfis(h)-chə-lə, British also ˈfis-tyu̇-lə \

medical Definition of fistula

plural fistulas or fistulae \-lē also -lī\

1 : an abnormal passage that leads from an abscess or hollow organ or part to the body surface or from one hollow organ or part to another and that may be surgically created to permit passage of fluids or secretions