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obturator

1. That which closes or stops an opening.

2. (Science: surgery) An apparatus designed to close an unnatural opening, as a fissure of the palate.

Origin: NL, fr. L. Obturare to stop up: cf.F. Obturateur.

(Science: anatomy) Serving as an obturator; closing an opening; pertaining to, or in the region of, the obturator foramen; as, the obturator nerve.

(Science: anatomy) Obturator foramen, an opening situated between the public and ischial parts of the innominate bone and closed by the obturator membrane; the thyroid foramen.