The widening or expansion of a hollow organ, vessel, or opening in the body, either naturally or through medical intervention. This can occur pathologically due to disease or therapeutically during medical procedures.
From Latin 'dilatare' meaning 'to spread wide' (dis- 'apart' + latus 'wide'). The term entered medical usage in the 14th century, initially describing the natural expansion of body openings during childbirth, then expanding to include pathological and therapeutic applications.
The pupil's dilatation response is so reliable that it's used as a key indicator of brain function in coma patients! This simple reflex involves a complex pathway from the eye through the brainstem, making it a window into neurological health.
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