fenestra

noun

fe·​nes·​tra fə-ˈne-strə 

plural fenestrae fə-ˈne-ˌstrē  -ˌtrī 

1

: a small anatomical opening (as in a bone): such as

a

or fenestra ovalis

-ō-ˈvā-ləs 

or fenestra vestibuli

-ve-ˈsti-byə-ˌlī 

: oval window

b

or fenestra cochleae

-ˈkä-klē-ˌē  -ˈkō-klē-ˌī 

or fenestra rotunda

-rō-ˈtən-də 

: round window

2

: an opening cut in bone

fenestral

fə-ˈne-strəl 

adjective

Examples of fenestra in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In most meat-eating dinosaurs, a ridge of bone provides a roof over an opening in the skull in front of the eye sockets known as the antorbital fenestra. —Matthew A. Brown, Scientific American, 1 Jan. 2021

Pterosaurs also had extra openings in their skulls, the largest of which was an opening in front of the eyes known as an antorbital fenestra. —Michael B. Habib, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2019

The massive dinosaur had two large holes in the roof of its skull (dorsotemporal fenestra) that were filled with muscles to aid jaw movements. —Fox News, 6 Sep. 2019

The specialized pocket sits within an opening on the top rear of the skull called the dorsotemporal fenestra. —Riley Black, Smithsonian, 4 Sep. 2019

All these animals are united by subtle skull features, such as the absence of a hole in the lower jaw called the mandibular fenestra and the flat, wrinkle-cusped teeth set along the jaws. —Brian Switek, WIRED, 6 June 2012

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, window

First Known Use

circa 1737, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

fenestra

noun

fe·​nes·​tra fə-ˈnes-trə 

plural fenestrae -ˌtrē  -ˌtrī 

1

: a small anatomical opening (as in a bone): as

a

: oval window

b

: round window

2

a

: a small opening cut in bone : window sense 2

b

: a small opening in a surgical instrument (as an endoscope)

fenestral

-trəl 

adjective