Body orifice - Definition and Overview

In a typical mammalian body such as the human body, the body orifices are:

• the nostrils, for breathing and the associated sense of smell
• the mouth, for eating and vocalizations such as speech
• the ear canals, for the sense of hearing
• the anus, for defecation
• the urethra, for urination (and in males, for ejaculation)
• in females, the vagina, for sexual intercourse and childbirth

In other organisms with different body plans, there are other body orifices, such as the cloaca in reptiles, and the siphon in cephalopods.

See also: Mucosa, Mucocutaneous boundary, meatus