obturator

obturator /ob·tu·ra·tor/ (ob´tu-rāt″er) a disk or plate, natural or artificial, that closes an opening.

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ob·tu·ra·tor (bt-rtr)

n.

1. A structure, such as the soft palate, that closes an opening in the body.

2. A prosthetic device that serves to close an opening or cleft, especially in the palate.

3. A stylus or removable plug used during the insertion of many tubular instruments.

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obturator

[ob′tərā′tər, ob′tyərā′tər]

Etymology: L, obturare, to close

1 a device used to block a passage or a canal or to fill in a space, such as a prosthesis implanted to bridge the gap in the roof of the mouth in a cleft palate.

2 

Usage notes: nontechnical.

an obturator muscle or membrane.

3 a device that is placed into a large-bore cannula during insertion to prevent potential blockage by residual tissues.

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obturator (ob´toorātur),

n a prosthesis used to close a congenital or acquired opening in the palate. See also aid, prosthetic speech.

Cleft palate obturator.

obturator, hollow,

n that portion of an obturator made hollow to minimize its weight.

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obturator

a disk or plate that closes an opening, e.g. to close a cleft palate temporarily or permanently.

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obturator muscles

the muscles that rotate the thigh laterally. See also Table 13.

obturator nerve degeneration

causes permanent obturator nerve paralysis (below).

obturator paralysis

commonly follows pressure on the obturator nerve during parturition; causes inability to adduct the thighs and the cow does the splits. When recumbent the legs are splayed with one on either side of the body.

Obturator paralysis. By permission from Sack W, Wensing CJG, Dyce KM, Textbook of Veterinary Anatomy, Saunders, 2002