Cephalotribe is a medical device used for obstetrically-related purposes. The word is challenging to spell due to its complex pronunciation. The phonetic transcription of this word using the International Phonetic Alphabet is /sɛfəloʊtraɪb/. As a healthcare professional, it is essential to spell the medical terms correctly for improved communication and patient safety. One can easily remember the spelling of cephalotribe by breaking it down into its root words, "cephalo" meaning head, and "tribe" meaning to crush or to press.
A forceps-like instrument, with strong blades and a screw handle, by means of which the fetal head can be crushed.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "cephalotribe" originates from the combination of two Greek roots: "cephalo" and "tribe".
1. "Cephalo" is derived from the Greek word "kephalḗ", which means "skull" or "head". It ultimately traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root "*ghebh-el", meaning "head" or "to be seized".
2. "Tribe" comes from the Greek word "tribḗ", which means "a rubbing" or "instrument of pressing". It is derived from the verb "tribein", meaning "to rub" or "to crush".
Therefore, when combined, "cephalotribe" literally means "an instrument used to crush or press the skull". The term is specifically used in the medical field to refer to a device utilized in obstetrics to compress the fetal head during difficult deliveries.