obturator

Ob"tu*ra`tor, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. obturare to stop up: cf.F. obturateur.] 1. That which closes or stops an opening. 2. (Surg.) Defn: An apparatus designed to close an unnatural opening, as a fissure of the palate. Ob"tu*ra`tor, a. (Anat.) Defn: Serving as an obturator; closing an opening; pertaining to, or in the region of, the obturator foramen; as, the obturator nerve. Obturator foramen (Anat.), an opening situated between the public and ischial parts of the innominate bone and closed by the obturator membrane; the thyroid foramen.

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