Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

fistula

/ˈfɪs.tjə.lə/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.60 in modern English

Syllables: fis-tu-la
IPA: /ˈfɪs.tjə.lə/

10

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

An abnormal connection or passageway between organs or vessels that normally do not connect.

noun

A tube, a pipe, or a hole.

noun

The tube through which the wine of the Eucharist was once sucked from the chalice in certain ceremonies (such as papal Masses).

Example Sentences

"communicating fistula"
"blind fistula"
"Small fistulæ are to be closed bilaterally in an antero-posterior line[…]"
"There are several reasons why a manual on this disease should be a part of the veterinary literature of the day, the chief one being that fistula of the withers is a very prevalent disease of horses and thus exacts a big toll from the horse industry."
"Fistulas are abnormal communications between two epithelialized surfaces. The causes of enterocutaneous fistulas can be remembered using the mnemonic FRIEND: Foreign body, Radiation, Inflammation/Infection/Inflammatory bowel disease, Epithelialization, Neoplasm, and Distal obstruction. Fifteen to twenty-five percent of enterocutaneous fistulas arise spontaneously as in, for example, Crohn’s disease or cancer."
"An intestinal fistula is an unwanted pathway from intestines to other organs (e.g., the bladder)."

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin fistula (“pipe, ulcer, catheter”). Doublet of fester.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈfɪs.tjə.lə/
British English: /ˈfɪs.tjə.lə/

Inflected Forms

fistulas (plural) fistulae (plural) fistulæ (plural) fistule (alternative)

Derived Forms

fistular fistulate fistulation fistuliform fistulization fistulize fistulogram fistulotomy fistulous

Phrases

anal fistula fistula-in-ano arteriovenous fistula pancreatic fistula vesicovaginal fistula

Frequently Paired Words

anastomosis

Synonyms

calamus sinus fistulous withers

Questions

How do you pronounce fistula?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈfɪs.tjə.lə/.
What does fistula mean?: An abnormal connection or passageway between organs or vessels that normally do not connect.
Where does fistula come from?: Learned borrowing from Latin fistula (“pipe, ulcer, catheter”). Doublet of fester.

How to pronounce fistula

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