LEUCOTOME Meaning and
Definition
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A leucotome is a specialized surgical instrument used in the field of neurology to perform a procedure called leucotomy, also known as lobotomy. It is designed specifically for cutting white matter tracts in the brain. The term "leucotome" is derived from the Greek words "leukos," meaning white, and "tomos," meaning cut.
The device has a long, slender shaft made of stainless steel or another suitable material. At the tip, there is a blade or wire loop that is used to sever selected neural connections in the white matter. These connections are often responsible for transmitting signals between different regions of the brain.
Leucotomy is a surgical procedure that was initially developed as a treatment for severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia and depression, in the early 20th century. It involves making small incisions in the prefrontal cortex region of the brain to disrupt the communication between different brain areas. The leucotome enables precise and targeted cuts in white matter tracts without damaging surrounding tissue.
However, due to its invasive nature and potential for serious side effects, including personality changes and cognitive impairments, leucotomy has largely fallen out of favor in modern medicine. It has been largely replaced by less invasive and more targeted therapies, such as medication and psychotherapy.
Although leucotomes are no longer used in routine clinical practice, their historical significance and the impact they had on the understanding and treatment of mental illness make them noteworthy instruments in the field of neurosurgery.
Common Misspellings for LEUCOTOME
- keucotome
- peucotome
- oeucotome
- lwucotome
- lsucotome
- lducotome
- lrucotome
- l4ucotome
- l3ucotome
- leycotome
- lehcotome
- lejcotome
- leicotome
- le8cotome
- le7cotome
- leuxotome
- leuvotome
- leufotome
- leudotome
- leucitome
Etymology of LEUCOTOME
The word "leucotome" is derived from Greek roots. It combines the Greek words "leukos" meaning "white" and "tomḗ" meaning "a cutting or incision". Therefore, etymologically, "leucotome" can be understood as a "white incision" or "white cutting".
