Cloaca
Cloaca
Cloaca (/kloʊˈeɪkə/; from Latin cloaca meaning "sewer") is a term used in zoology and medicine. In zoology, it refers to the posterior orifice that serves as the only opening for the digestive, reproductive, and urinary tracts of certain animal species. In human embryology, it refers to an early developmental stage where the urinary, reproductive, and gastrointestinal tracts share a common channel.
Etymology
The term cloaca is derived from the Latin word cloāca, which translates to "sewer" or "drain". This term was used in ancient Rome to describe the city's system of sewers. The biological usage of the term is metaphorical, referring to the function of the cloaca in certain animals as a common channel for waste and reproductive fluids.
Zoological Use
In many non-mammalian vertebrates, the cloaca is the end point for the digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems. Birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish all possess a cloaca. In these animals, the cloaca expels both excretory and reproductive substances.
Medical Use
In human embryology, the term cloaca refers to a stage of development where the urinary, reproductive, and gastrointestinal tracts share a common channel. This structure is present in the early stages of embryonic development. However, in most cases, the cloaca divides into separate tracts for waste expulsion and reproduction in the later stages of development.
Related Terms
- Cloacal exstrophy: A severe birth defect wherein much of the abdominal organs are exposed.
- Persistent cloaca: A complex anorectal and genitourinary malformation, where the rectum, vagina, and urinary tract meet and fuse, creating a cloaca.
- Urogenital sinus: An embryonic structure which the cloaca divides into during the development of the urinary and reproductive organs.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cloaca
- Wikipedia's article - Cloaca
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