əˌnastəˈmōsə̇s, ˌanəs- noun
( plural anastomo·ses -ōˌsēz)
Etymology: Late Latin, from Greek anastomōsis opening, from anastomoun to furnish with a mouth, to open (from ana- + stoma mouth, opening) + -sis — more at stomach
1. : an act or instance of joining, intercommunicating, or inosculating:
a. : the union of artery and vein or the rejoining of branches of a common vascular trunk to form a network by which the circulation of a part is maintained when the usual channel is obstructed (as by ligature or a thrombus)
b. : similar joining of the parts of other branched systems (as the veins of a leaf or streams in a swamp)
c. : the surgical union of parts, especially of hollow tubular parts
anastomosis of the ureter and colon is surgically practicable
2. : a product of anastomosis ; especially : a network (as of channels or branches) produced by anastomosis