amniocentesis

American  

[am-nee-oh-sen-tee-sis] / ˌæm ni oʊ sɛnˈti sɪs /

noun

amniocenteses plural

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.

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amniocentesis British  

/ ˌæmnɪəʊsɛnˈtiːsɪs /

noun

1. removal of some amniotic fluid by the insertion into the womb of a hollow needle, for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes

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amniocentesis Scientific  

/ ăm′nē-ō-sĕn-tē′sĭs /

1. A procedure usually done about the sixteenth week of pregnancy in which a small sample of amniotic fluid is drawn out of the uterus through a needle inserted in the abdomen. The fluid is analyzed to determine the gender of the fetus or the presence of genetic abnormalities.

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amniocentesis Cultural  

1. A procedure for finding certain disorders in a fetus during pregnancy. In amniocentesis, a small amount of the salty liquid that surrounds the fetus in the amniotic sac is drawn out through a needle inserted into the mother's abdomen. The fluid generally contains some isolated cells from the fetus. These cells are analyzed to detect abnormalities in the chromosomes of the fetus, such as Down's syndrome, and may also be used to judge some other conditions, such as the maturity of the fetus's lungs.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• amniocenteses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of amniocentesis

1955–60; amnio- (as combining form of amnion ) + centesis

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

amniocentesis amniocenteses

When the Ridgways had finished filming the results of the amniocentesis, they debated whether they should share the video.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2026

My mind incongruously goes to amniocentesis, the dread prenatal test I underwent two decades earlier during my first pregnancy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 7, 2025

In addition to amniocentesis, which removes and tests a small sample of cells from amniotic fluid, these also include CVS, or chorionic villus sampling, which tests a small piece of tissue from the placenta.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 12, 2024

This restriction stems from the fact that the analysis currently necessitates either chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis, both procedures associated with discomfort and a slight risk of miscarriage.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 4, 2024

They gave me amniocentesis and ushered me and my husband to a genetic counselor.

From Slate ● Nov. 4, 2022

"These 2,816 amniocenteses and the chromosome analyses cost approximately $ 1.5 million," the study said.

From Slate ● Feb. 21, 2012