Relating to or characterized by a hiatus (opening or gap), especially in anatomy when referring to an opening in the diaphragm.
From Latin 'hiātus' (gap or opening) plus '-al' (adjective suffix). The term became common in medical terminology in the 20th century with the recognition of hiatal hernia as a medical condition.
A hiatal hernia is incredibly common—your stomach pushes through a gap in your diaphragm—and millions of people experience it, making 'hiatal' one of the most medically relevant gap-words in the human body.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.