catheter
[ kath-i-ter ]
/ ˈkæθ ɪ tər /
noun Medicine/Medical.
a flexible or rigid hollow tube employed to drain fluids from body cavities or to distend body passages, especially one for passing into the bladder through the urethra to draw off urine or into the heart through a leg vein or arm vein for diagnostic examination.
Origin of catheter
1595–1605; < Late Latin < Greek
kathetḗr kind of tube, literally, something sent or let down, equivalent to
kathe- (variant stem of
kathiénai, equivalent to
kat-
cata- +
hiénai to send, let go) +
-tḗr agent suffix
Words nearby catheter
Example sentences from the Web for catheter
British Dictionary definitions for catheter
catheter
/ (ˈkæθɪtə) /
noun
med
a long slender flexible tube for inserting into a natural bodily cavity or passage for introducing or withdrawing fluid, such as urine or blood
Word Origin for catheter
C17: from Late Latin, from Greek
kathetēr, from
kathienai to send down, insert
Medical definitions for catheter
catheter
[ kăth′ĭ-tər ]
n.
A hollow, flexible tube inserted into a body cavity, duct, or vessel to allow the passage of fluids or distend a passageway; its many uses include the diagnosis of heart disorders when inserted through a blood vessel into the heart.
Scientific definitions for catheter
catheter
[ kăth′ĭ-tər ]
A hollow, flexible tube inserted into a body cavity, duct, or vessel to allow the passage of fluids or distend a passageway.
Cultural definitions for catheter
catheter
[ (kath-uh-tuhr) ]
A thin tube inserted into one of the channels or blood vessels in the body to remove fluids, create an opening into an internal cavity, or administer injections.