View source for Dilator

{{short description|Surgical instrument or medical implement used to expand an opening or passage}}
[[File:Lithotomy dilator with fenestrated blades, 16th century type. Wellcome L0011385.jpg|thumb|right|180px|A 16th-century [[lithotomy]] dilator, used to expand the [[urethra]] for extraction of [[Calculus (medicine)|urinary stones]]]]
'''Dilator''' or '''dilatator''' is a medical term with a number of uses, including:

*A [[surgical instrument]] or medical implement used to induce [[Wiktionary:dilation|dilation]], that is, to expand an opening or passage such as the [[cervix]] (see [[cervical dilator]]), [[urethra]], [[esophagus]], or [[Vagina#Vaginal opening and hymen|vaginal introitus]].
*A [[drug|pharmacological]] treatment used to induce dilation, such as [[cervical dilation]], [[Vasodilator|vasodilation]], or [[Pupillary response|pupillary dilation]]. For example, a [[bronchodilator]].
*A muscle which causes dilation of a part, for example, the [[iris dilator muscle]] or the [[dilator naris muscle]].

==See also==
{{commonscat|Dilators}}
*[[Stent]]
*[[Vaginal dilator]]

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{{Surgical instruments}}
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[[Category:Medical equipment]]