external orifice
- noun
- Specialized
- Proper hygiene around the external orifice is important to prevent urinary tract infections.
Examples
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The doctor examined the external orifice for signs of infection.
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A blockage at the external orifice can cause urinary retention.
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The external orifice is crucial for urination.
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Doctors examine the external orifice during routine check-ups.
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A blockage at the external orifice can cause urinary retention.
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Proper hygiene around the external orifice is important to prevent urinary tract infections.
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The doctor examined the external orifice for signs of infection.
Synonyms
The opening where urine leaves the body
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'external' (= outside) modifies 'orifice' (= an opening), so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to an outside opening. This adjective+noun construction is regular and cross-linguistically common, so the specific medical referent may require context but the basic sense is transparent.
Etymology
External orifice comes from the words external (meaning 'outside') and orifice (a small 'mouth' or opening), so imagine a tiny mouth on the outside of the body. That's why it means the body opening that lets urine out.