How Do You Spell LITHOTOME?

Pronunciation: [lˈɪθətˌə͡ʊm] (IPA)

The correct spelling of the word Lithotome, which means a surgical instrument used for cutting stones in the bladder, is pronounced as /ˈlɪθətoʊm/. The first part of the word, "litho" comes from the Greek word for stone, "lithos," while "tome" means to cut. The phonetic transcription shows that the stress is on the second syllable, while the final "e" is pronounced as "ohm." Being able to spell and pronounce medical terms accurately is important in healthcare, to avoid misunderstandings or medical errors.

LITHOTOME Meaning and Definition

1. A lithotome is a medical instrument specifically designed for cutting or crushing urinary or biliary calculi, commonly referred to as stones, in the human body. It consists of a long, slender blade inserted through an opening, typically made in the perineum, into the urinary or biliary tract.

   The primary function of a lithotome is to facilitate lithotomy procedures, which involve the surgical removal or fragmentation of calculi. During such procedures, the lithotome is carefully guided through the body to the location of the stone, and the blade is employed to make an incision or to crush the calculus, allowing for its subsequent extraction or natural elimination.

   Lithotomes are generally crafted with sharp, precise blades that can effectively and safely incise or fragment stones within the human body. The blades may be designed to slice or pierce the stone, depending on the specific application. The length of the lithotome may vary depending on the access required to reach the desired calculus, and the instrument is often equipped with a handle or grip for easy manipulation by the surgeon.

   While the lithotome has been used historically for stone removal, modern medical advancements have led to the development of less invasive techniques, such as extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy or laser lithotripsy. Consequently, the use of lithotomes has become less prevalent in contemporary urological and biliary procedures.

2. A knife used in lithotomy.

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

Common Misspellings for LITHOTOME

• kithotome
• pithotome
• oithotome
• luthotome
• ljthotome
• lkthotome
• lothotome
• l9thotome
• l8thotome
• lirhotome
• lifhotome
• lighotome
• liyhotome
• li6hotome
• li5hotome
• litgotome
• litbotome
• litnotome
• litjotome
• lithyotome

Etymology of LITHOTOME

The word "Lithotome" has its origins in the Greek language. It is derived from two Greek words: "lithos" meaning "stone" and "tome" meaning "cutting" or "incision". Therefore, "Lithotome" literally translates to "stone cutting" or "stone incision". The term is commonly used in medical contexts to refer to a surgical instrument used for cutting or removing urinary bladder stones.

Plural form of LITHOTOME is LITHOTOMES