amniocentesis: Meaning and Definition of

am•ni•o•cen•te•sis

Pronunciation: (am"nē-ō-sen-tē'sis), [key]
— pl. -ses
  1. a surgical procedure for obtaining a sample of amniotic fluid from the amniotic sac in the uterus of a pregnant woman by inserting a hollow needle through the abdominal wall, used in diagnosing certain genetic defects or possible obstetric complications.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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