Stoma vs. Stomata

Stomanoun

(botany) One of the tiny pores in the epidermis of a leaf or stem through which gases and water vapor pass.

Stomanoun

A small opening in a membrane; a surgically constructed opening, especially one in the abdominal wall that permits the passage of waste after a colostomy or ileostomy.

Stomanoun

(zoology) A mouthlike opening, such as the oral cavity of a nematode.

Stomanoun

An artificial anus.

Stomanoun

One of the minute apertures between the cells in many serous membranes.

Stomanoun

The minute breathing pores of leaves or other organs opening into the intercellular spaces, and usually bordered by two contractile cells.

Stomanoun

A stigma. See Stigma, n., 6 (a) & (b).

Stomanoun

a minute epidermal pore in a leaf or stem through which gases and water vapor can pass

Stomanoun

a mouth or mouthlike opening (especially one created by surgery on the surface of the body to create an opening to an internal organ)

Stomanoun

any of the minute pores in the epidermis of the leaf or stem of a plant, forming a slit of variable width which allows movement of gases in and out of the intercellular spaces.

Stomanoun

a small opening like a mouth in some lower animals.

Stomanoun

an artificial opening made into a hollow organ, especially one on the surface of the body leading to the gut or trachea.

Stoma

In botany, a stoma (from Greek στόμα, , plural ), also called a stomate (plural ) is a pore, found in the epidermis of leaves, stems, and other organs, that controls the rate of gas exchange. The pore is bordered by a pair of specialized parenchyma cells known as guard cells that are responsible for regulating the size of the stomatal opening.