Pronunciation: [sˈɛktɪˌə͡ʊ] (IPA) 
The word "sectio" is spelled as s-e-c-t-i-o in English. The IPA phonetic transcription for this word is /ˈsɛkʃəʊ/, indicating that the first syllable is pronounced with a short "e" sound followed by a "k" and "ʃ" sound. The second syllable is pronounced with a long "o" sound. This Latin word refers to a cut or a section, and is commonly used in medical terminology such as "cesarean section" or "surgical section."
Sectio is a Latin word that derives from the verb "secare," meaning "to cut." In medical terminology, sectio refers to a surgical procedure known as a cesarean section (C-section). A C-section is a surgical intervention performed to deliver a baby when a vaginal birth poses risks to the mother or baby's health. It involves making an incision through the mother's abdominal wall and uterus to safely extract the baby.
During a sectio, the mother is administered anesthesia, and the surgeon typically makes an incision horizontally across the lower abdomen, near the pubic hairline. This incision grants access to the uterus, allowing the surgeon to deliver the baby. Following the delivery, the surgeon closes the uterine incision and then the abdominal incision with sutures or staples.
Cesarean sections can be planned in advance or performed as emergency procedures when complications arise during labor. Some possible reasons for a sectio include fetal distress, abnormal positioning of the fetus (such as breech presentation), placenta previa, maternal health conditions (e.g., preeclampsia), or a history of previous C-sections.
While C-sections are generally safe, they do entail risks similar to any surgical procedure, including infection, bleeding, or longer recovery periods compared to vaginal birth. Nevertheless, cesarean sections have undoubtedly evolved into a lifeline for countless mothers and babies when natural birth would put them at risk.
Section.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "sectio" derives from the Latin noun "sectio", which means "a cutting" or "a segment". It is derived from the verb "secare", meaning "to cut" or "to divide". The Latin word has its roots in the Proto-Indo-European root "sek-", also meaning "to cut" or "to divide". This root has also given rise to words in other languages, such as "section" in English and "sección" in Spanish.
