meatal

Meatal is an anatomical adjective relating to a meatus, which is a natural body opening or canal that serves as a conduit for the passage of air, fluids, or other substances. In anatomy, meatuses (the plural form) are openings or corridors within the skull and other regions, and the term is used to describe the specific opening at a given location.

Common examples include the external auditory meatus, or ear canal, which channels sound to the eardrum; and the nasal meatuses—superior, middle, and inferior—passages under the nasal conchae that air streams through and interacts with the nasal mucosa. The external urethral meatus refers to the external opening of the urethra, through which urine exits the body and, in males, where semen is ejaculated.

Meatal conditions describe problems affecting a meatus. Meatal stenosis is a narrowing of the urethral meatus and is a topic in pediatric urology because it can affect urinary flow and may require evaluation or treatment. Meatal dermatitis or irritation can occur from infections, irritants, or hygiene issues, presenting with redness, itching, or discomfort at the opening. Less commonly, trauma, congenital anomalies, or postoperative changes can alter a meatus.

In clinical contexts, specifying the location of a meatus (for example, nasal versus urethral) clarifies anatomical relationships and guides examination and management.