anastomosis
UK[əˌnæstəˈməʊsɪs]US[əˌnæstəˈmoʊsɪs]
n
a connection or cross-connection between two blood vessels, streams, or other branching structures.
n
the surgical joining of two hollow structures, such as blood vessels or loops of intestine.
Morpheme Breakdown
ana
stom
osis
ana
up, again
stom
mouth
osis
condition, process
Etymology
the word 'anastomosis' originates from greek, where 'anastomoun' meant 'to furnish with a mouth or outlet'. it is built from the prefix 'ana-' ('up, again'), combined with 'stoma' ('mouth'), and the noun-forming suffix '-osis'. the literal image is of creating a new 'mouth' or opening between two vessels. this anatomical term entered late middle english via medieval latin, preserving the core concept of interconnecting channels. its meaning evolved from the physical idea of creating openings to the modern medical and biological sense of a network of interconnected passages.
Analysis
Structure: ana (up, again) + stom (mouth) + osis (condition, process)
ana- (greek origin, prefix meaning 'up, back, again'); -stom- (from greek 'stoma', meaning 'mouth'); -osis (greek suffix forming nouns, indicating a state, condition, or process).
Examples
the surgeon performed an anastomosis to reconnect the patient's intestines after the resection.
the delta is formed by the anastomosis of several river branches.
a healthy circulatory system relies on a vast network of anastomoses between arteries.