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Definition

noun, plural: orifices

An opening or aperture; any external opening in the body of an animal.

Supplement

In a typical mammalian body such as the human body, the body orifices are: nostrils, eyes, mouth, ear canals, anus, urethra, vagina, orifices of nipples, orifices of sweat glands, navel.

Other animals may have some other body orifices: cloaca in birds, reptiles, amphibians, and some other animals, and siphon in mollusca, arthropods, and some other animals.

Word origin: Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin orificium, compound of os, mouth + -ficium.

Related forms: orificial (adjective).
Related terms:

• anal orifice
• aortic orifice
• cardiac orifice
• orifice of external acoustic meatus
• orifice of inferior vena cava
• tricuspid orifice
• vaginal orifice