How Do You Spell CEPHALOTOMY?

Pronunciation: [sˌɛfɐlˈɒtəmɪ] (IPA)

Cephalotomy, pronounced /sɛfəˈlɒtəmi/, is a medical term that refers to a surgical incision made on the head of a fetus during delivery. The spelling of this word can be broken down phonetically into four parts: sef-uh-lot-uh-mee. The first syllable, sef, is pronounced with an "eh" sound, followed by "uh" in the second syllable, lot. The final two syllables, uh-mee, are pronounced with a long "e" sound followed by "mee". This complex word is not commonly used outside of the medical field.

CEPHALOTOMY Meaning and Definition

1. Cephalotomy is a medical procedure that involves surgical incision or dissection of the head or skull. Derived from the Greek words "kephalē" meaning "head" and "tomē" meaning "incision," cephalotomy is typically performed to gain access to the cranial cavity or treat conditions affecting the brain or surrounding structures.

   The procedure is commonly used in neurosurgery to remove brain tumors, drain abscesses, repair skull fractures, or access and treat abnormal blood vessel formations such as aneurysms or arteriovenous malformations. Cephalotomy may also be employed to alleviate pressure buildup in the skull caused by conditions like hydrocephalus.

   During a cephalotomy, the surgeon makes a careful incision in the scalp and creates an opening in the skull using specialized surgical tools. This provides direct access to the brain and allows the surgeon to intervene as necessary. The procedure requires meticulous planning and precision to avoid potential complications, such as infection, bleeding, or damage to surrounding structures.

   After completing the necessary interventions, the surgeon typically seals the opening in the skull using titanium plates, sutures, or bone grafts to promote healing and restore the integrity of the cranial bones. Postoperative care, including close monitoring, pain management, and rehabilitation, is crucial in ensuring the patient's recovery and minimizing any potential complications.

2. The operation of cutting in two the head of the fetus to facilitate compression, when it is lisproportionately large and prevents birth.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for CEPHALOTOMY

• xephalotomy
• vephalotomy
• fephalotomy
• dephalotomy
• cwphalotomy
• csphalotomy
• cdphalotomy
• crphalotomy
• c4phalotomy
• c3phalotomy
• ceohalotomy
• celhalotomy
• ce-halotomy
• ce0halotomy
• cepgalotomy
• cepbalotomy
• cepnalotomy
• cepjalotomy
• cepualotomy

Etymology of CEPHALOTOMY

The word "cephalotomy" is derived from the Greek words "kephalḗ" which means "head" and "tomḗ" which means "cutting" or "incision". Therefore, "cephalotomy" refers to a surgical procedure involving the cutting or incision of the head.