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 dilator, used to expand the urethra for extraction of urinary stones]]

Dilator or dilatator is a medical term with a number of uses, including:

• A surgical instrument or medical implement used to induce dilation, that is, to expand an opening or passage such as the cervix (see cervical dilator), urethra, esophagus, or vaginal introitus.
• A pharmacological treatment used to induce dilation, such as cervical dilation, vasodilation, or 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.