fundus
Meaning of fundus: The fundus is the rounded base of a hollow organ farthest from its opening, a landmark used to describe findings in organs from the stomach to the eye.
Definition of fundus
The fundus is the part of a hollow organ that lies farthest from the organ's opening, typically forming a rounded base or dome shaped section. Several organs are described as having a fundus, including the stomach, gallbladder, bladder, uterus, and eye, as well as the cavity of the middle ear.
In each organ, the fundus serves as a fixed anatomical landmark used to describe location, such as the top portion of the uterus during pregnancy or the back of the interior eye examined during an eye exam. The term always refers to this same general relationship, the region opposite the organ's opening or outlet.
Because the fundus is a consistent reference point, clinicians use its position, size, or appearance, such as fundal height in pregnancy or the appearance of the ocular fundus on examination, to track changes over time or compare findings against an expected normal appearance.
Used in a sentence
Examination of the ocular fundus revealed changes consistent with the patient's underlying condition.
Good to know
The fundus refers to the same general anatomical relationship, farthest from an organ's opening, in several unrelated organs, so the specific organ under discussion must be clear from context.
Word origin
Where “fundus” comes from
Formed from Latin fundus, meaning bottom or base.