Top cave radical — a roof shape above a stylized cavity, picturing a cave dwelling. The indexing radical, anchors
窍 in the family of opening/hole chars:
穿 pierce,
空 empty,
突 sudden / protrude,
窗 window,
究 investigate. Marks
窍 as an aperture — both literal body orifices (
七窍 the seven orifices) and the figurative 'opening / knack' in
诀窍 know-how.