Body orifice
(Redirected from Orifice)
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
A body orifice is an opening in the body of an animal. In a typical mammalian body such as the human body, the body orifices are:
- The nostrils, for breathing and the associated sense of smell.
- The eyes, for the sense of sight and crying.
- The mouth, for eating, breathing and vocalizations such as speech.
- The ear canals, for the sense of hearing.
- The anus, for defecation.
- The urethra, for urination, and in males, also for ejaculation.
- In females, the vagina, for sexual intercourse, menstruation and childbirth.
- The breast, especially in females for breastfeeding.
In other organisms with different body plans, there are other body orifices, such as the cloaca in reptiles, and the siphon in cephalopods.