Body 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.

• Mucosa
• Mucocutaneous boundary
• Meatus

Template:Anatomy-stub de:Körperöffnung

Template:WS