Local
Local Anesthesia
Local anesthesia (pronounced: loh-kul an-uh-sthee-zhuh) is a type of anesthesia that numbs a small, specific area of the body. It is used to prevent pain or discomfort during minor surgical procedures.
Etymology
The term "local anesthesia" is derived from the Greek words "lokalis" meaning "place" and "anaisthēsia" meaning "insensibility".
Definition
Local anesthesia is a method of pain control that blocks the transmission of nerve impulses within a specific area of the body. This allows minor surgical procedures to be performed without causing pain to the patient. The medication used to achieve local anesthesia is called a local anesthetic.
Types of Local Anesthesia
There are two main types of local anesthesia:
- Topical anesthesia: This is applied to the skin or mucous membranes and is used for minor procedures such as skin biopsies or suturing of small wounds.
- Infiltration anesthesia: This involves injecting the anesthetic directly into the tissue to be treated. It is used for procedures such as dental work or minor skin surgeries.
Related Terms
- Anesthesia: A state of controlled, temporary loss of sensation or awareness.
- General anesthesia: A medically induced coma with loss of protective reflexes, resulting from the administration of one or more general anesthetic agents.
- Regional anesthesia: A type of anesthesia that blocks pain in a larger area of the body, such as an entire limb or the lower half of the body.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Local
- Wikipedia's article - Local
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