Blocks

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Blocks (medicine)

Blocks (pronounced: /blɒks/) in the field of medicine, refer to a method of controlling pain or sensation in a specific area of the body, typically by injecting a local anesthetic around the nerves that supply that area.

Etymology

The term 'block' in this context is derived from the action of the anesthetic, which 'blocks' the transmission of nerve signals, thus preventing pain or sensation.

Types of Blocks

There are several types of blocks used in medicine, including:

  • Epidural block: This is a type of anesthesia that blocks pain in a particular region of the body. The goal of an epidural block is to provide analgesia, or pain relief, rather than anesthesia, which leads to total lack of feeling.
  • Nerve block: A nerve block is a procedure in which an anesthetic is injected at the site of a nerve to prevent pain signals from traveling along that nerve pathway.
  • Spinal block: A spinal block, also known as a spinal anesthesia, is a form of regional anesthesia involving injection of a local anesthetic into the subarachnoid space, generally through a fine needle.

Related Terms

  • Anesthesia: A state of controlled, temporary loss of sensation or awareness that is induced for medical purposes. It may include analgesia (relief from or prevention of pain), paralysis (muscle relaxation), amnesia (loss of memory), or unconsciousness.
  • Analgesia: The inability to feel pain while still conscious.
  • Local anesthetic: A medication that causes absence of pain sensation in the area to which it is applied.

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