A natural or artificial communication between 2 blood vessels or tubular cavities that may or may not normally be joined. Natural anastomoses usually occur when small arteries are attached directly to veins without passing through capillaries. They occur in the skin and are used to help control temperature regulation. Surgical anastomoses are used to create a bypass around a blockage in an artery or in the intestine. They are also used to rejoin cut ends of the bowel or blood vessels. (See also bypass surgery.)
Anastomosis |
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