English

Noun

amniocentesis ‎(plural amniocenteses)

1. (medicine) A procedure for obtaining amniotic fluid from a pregnant animal, by inserting a hollow needle through the abdominal wall and into the amniotic sac. Used in diagnosing possible genetic defects and/or obstetric complications.
   • 1999, Matt Ridley, Genome, Harper Perennial 2004, p. 287:

     In most countries amniocentesis is now offered to – perhaps even imposed on – all older mothers, to check whether the foetus carries an extra chromosome.

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