stomat

Stomat is a combining form derived from the Greek stoma, meaning mouth or opening. In medical and biological terminology, stomat- is used to indicate relation to the mouth or to a mouth-like opening. It appears in a range of terms describing anatomy, pathology, and procedures.

In clinical and dental contexts, stomat- forms several common terms. Stomatitis refers to inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth. Stomatology is the historical term for the study of the mouth and its diseases, and stomatoplasty denotes surgical repair or reconstruction of oral structures. The same stem also participates in terms describing artificial openings created for medical reasons, where the concept of an opening resembles a mouth, as in stomas formed during procedures such as colostomy or ileostomy.

In botany, the related term stoma (plural stomata) refers to small pores on leaf and stem surfaces that regulate gas exchange. Although botanists typically use stomata as the noun, the underlying root stomat- is etymologically the same, reflecting the idea of an opening.

Stomat as a derivational element therefore functions primarily to form terms related to the mouth or to openings, rather than as a standalone anatomical term. Its usage spans both clinical language and broader biological terminology, with attention to the context in which the root denotes either a mouth or a regulated opening.