amniocentesis

amniocentesis definition - medical

am·ni·o·cen·te·sis (ămˌnē-ō-sĕn-tēˈsĭs)

noun pl. am·ni·o·cen·te·ses (-sēzˌ)
A procedure in which a small sample of amniotic fluid is drawn out of the uterus through a needle inserted in the abdomen and is then analyzed to detect genetic abnormalities in the fetus or to determine the sex of the fetus.

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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