Which term refers to an opening in the abdominal wall?

The term that refers to an opening in the abdominal wall is "stoma." A stoma can be created surgically to allow for the diversion of bodily waste or to provide an opening for other medical purposes. It is a general term that applies to any created opening in the body, particularly in the gastrointestinal system.

In contrast, while colostomy and ileostomy refer specifically to types of stomas created for the passage of stool from the colon or ileum respectively, they are not the broad term that encompasses all types of openings in the abdominal wall. Gastrotomy refers specifically to a surgical incision into the stomach and does not imply an external opening like a stoma does. Thus, stoma is the most accurate and encompassing term for an opening in the abdominal wall.