amniocentesis Definition
- 1a medical procedure used to diagnose chromosomal abnormalities and fetal infections in pregnant women
- 2a small amount of amniotic fluid is removed from the sac surrounding the fetus and tested for genetic disorders
Using amniocentesis: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "amniocentesis" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The doctor recommended amniocentesis to test for any genetic disorders.
Example
Amniocentesis is usually performed between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Example
The results of the amniocentesis showed that the baby was healthy.
Phrases with amniocentesis
a prenatal test used to detect birth defects, genetic diseases, and other problems during pregnancy
Example
The doctor recommended either amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS) to test for any genetic disorders.
the fluid surrounding a fetus in the uterus, which protects the fetus from injury and helps regulate temperature
Example
The doctor extracted a small amount of amniotic fluid during the amniocentesis.
a process of communication between a trained professional and an individual or couple to help them understand and adapt to the medical, psychological, and familial implications of genetic contributions to disease
Example
The couple received genetic counseling before deciding to undergo amniocentesis.
Origins of amniocentesis
from Greek 'amnion' meaning 'membrane around a fetus' and 'kentesis' meaning 'puncturing'
Summary: amniocentesis in Brief
'Amniocentesis' [am-nee-oh-sen-tee-sis] is a medical procedure used to diagnose chromosomal abnormalities and fetal infections in pregnant women. It involves removing a small amount of amniotic fluid from the sac surrounding the fetus and testing it for genetic disorders. The procedure is usually performed between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy and can be used in conjunction with genetic counseling. Phrases like 'chorionic villus sampling (CVS)' and 'amniotic fluid' are related terms.
