Ligature
Ligature (medicine)
Ligature (pronunciation: /ˈlɪɡətʃər/) is a term used in medicine to refer to a thread or string used to tie off blood vessels to prevent bleeding, or to bind or constrict tissues.
Etymology
The term 'ligature' originates from the Latin word 'ligatura', from 'ligare' which means 'to bind'.
Usage in Medicine
In surgery, a ligature is commonly used to tie off a blood vessel to prevent bleeding. This is known as ligation. The process involves the use of a ligature to create a loop around the vessel, which is then tightened. This can be done manually or with the use of a ligature carrier or applier.
Ligatures are also used in other medical procedures, such as in the treatment of varicose veins where they are used to tie off the affected veins.
In dentistry, a ligature can refer to a piece of wire or elastic used to secure an orthodontic bracket to an archwire.
Related Terms
- Ligation: The process of using a ligature to tie off a blood vessel or bind tissues.
- Suture: A stitch or row of stitches sewn to hold together the edges of a wound or surgical incision.
- Hemostasis: The process of stopping bleeding.
- Orthodontics: A branch of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis, prevention, and correction of malpositioned teeth and jaws.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Ligature
- Wikipedia's article - Ligature
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski