fenestration
- noun
- /ˌfɛnɪˈstreɪʃən/
- Archaic
- She had a fenestration done last week, and she can already hear much better.
Examples
-
After diagnosing osteosclerosis, the doctor recommended a fenestration procedure.
-
The necrotic rings were excised and a fenestration was made in the anterior wall (Figure 3).
Academic text (2002) -
Figure 3. The photograph shows the tracheotomy that was created by fenestration of the anterior tracheal wall after excision of the necrotic cartilage rings.
Academic text (2002) -
The surgeon performed a fenestration to help the patient regain their hearing.
Synonyms
An operation that makes a small hole in a middle ear bone to help hearing
An operation to remove a small bone in the middle ear to help hearing
Surface Forms
Morphology
fenestration = fenestrate (opaque) = fenestr + ation
The medical sense refers to creating an opening (in the cochlea) but relies on the same uncommon combining form, so learners cannot derive it from common English knowledge.
Etymology
The word fenestration comes from the Latin fenestra, meaning 'window'. In medicine a fenestration is a surgical 'window' or small opening made in the ear area to help sound get through, so the name shows the idea of creating a new opening to improve hearing.