Anaesthetic
Anaesthetic
Anaesthetic (pronounced: /ˌænɪsˈθɛtɪk/) is a drug used to induce insensitivity to pain, often used to facilitate medical procedures. The term is derived from the Greek words "an-" meaning "without", and "aisthēsis" meaning "sensation".
Types of Anaesthetic
There are two main types of anaesthetics: Local anaesthetic and General anaesthetic.
- Local anaesthetic is a type of anaesthetic that causes loss of sensation in a specific area of the body. This allows minor surgical procedures to be performed without causing pain to the patient.
- General anaesthetic is a type of anaesthetic that causes a temporary loss of sensation and consciousness. This is used for major surgical procedures, or procedures that would otherwise be too painful or distressing for the patient to endure.
Related Terms
- Analgesic - A drug that relieves pain without causing loss of consciousness.
- Sedative - A drug that induces calmness, relaxation, or sleep.
- Hypnotic - A drug that induces sleep.
- Narcotic - A drug that relieves pain, induces sleep, and may alter mood or behaviour.
Etymology
The term "anaesthetic" was first used in the English language in 1846. It is derived from the Greek words "an-", meaning "without", and "aisthēsis", meaning "sensation". Thus, "anaesthetic" literally means "without sensation".
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Anaesthetic
- Wikipedia's article - Anaesthetic
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