Professional
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
cloaca
Pronunciation: kloh-AY-kah
A rare congenital malformation where the rectum, vagina, and urinary tract converge into a single common channel.
Full Definition
Cloaca is a complex congenital anomaly occurring in female infants where the rectum, vagina, and urinary tract fail to separate properly during embryonic development, resulting in a single perineal opening. This condition requires staged surgical reconstruction and is often associated with other anomalies. The term derives from the Latin word for 'sewer' and is also found in veterinary contexts when describing normal anatomy in birds and reptiles.
Usage
Usage note: Always lowercase unless beginning a sentence; avoid confusion with cloacal exstrophy, which is a different condition.
In Context
- "The newborn was diagnosed with a cloaca requiring immediate surgical evaluation." — Medical record documentation
- "Cloacal repair typically involves separating the three tract systems in a staged approach." — Surgical planning notes
Also known as
cloacal malformation
persistent cloaca
Don't confuse with
cloacal exstrophy
anorectal malformation