cloaca (redirected from common cloaca)

clo·a·ca  (kl-k)

n. pl. clo·a·cae (-s)

1. A sewer or latrine.

2. Zoology

a. The common cavity into which the intestinal, genital, and urinary tracts open in vertebrates such as fish, reptiles, birds, and some primitive mammals.

b. The posterior part of the intestinal tract in various invertebrates.

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[Latin cloca, sewer, canal.]

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clo·acal (-kl) adj.

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cloaca [kləʊˈeɪkə]

n pl -cae [-kiː]

1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) a cavity in the pelvic region of most vertebrates, except higher mammals, and certain invertebrates, into which the alimentary canal and the genital and urinary ducts open

2. a sewer

[from Latin: sewer; related to Greek kluzein to wash out]

cloacal  adj

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cloaca  (kl-k)

Plural cloacae (kl-s)

1. The body cavity into which the intestinal, urinary, and genital canals empty in birds, reptiles, amphibians, most fish, and monotremes. The cloaca has an opening for expelling its contents from the body, and in females it serves as the depository for sperm. Also called vent.

2. See vent.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	cloaca - (zoology) the cavity (in birds, reptiles, amphibians, most fish, and monotremes but not mammals) at the end of the digestive tract into which the intestinal, genital, and urinary tracts open bodily cavity, cavum, cavity - (anatomy) a natural hollow or sinus within the body zoological science, zoology - the branch of biology that studies animals
	2.	cloaca - a waste pipe that carries away sewage or surface water sewer, sewerage drainpipe, waste pipe, drain - a pipe through which liquid is carried away sewage system, sewage works, sewer system - facility consisting of a system of sewers for carrying off liquid and solid sewage