stoma

(STOH-muh) A surgically created opening from an area inside the body to the outside.

(pl.: stomata) 1. Any of various small openings or pores in an animal body, especially an opening resembling a mouth in various invertebrates. 2. A pore in the epidermis of the leaf or stem of a plant, which allows the exchange of gases, including water vapour, to and from the intercellular spaces. Sometimes used loosely to refer to the pore along with its associated pair of guard cells. Synonym: stomate. See: stomatal complex.