Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Orifice
Introduction
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.
See also
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]