Oxytocic
Oxytocic
Oxytocic (pronunciation: /ɒksɪˈtəʊsɪk/) is a term used in the field of medicine to describe a drug or hormone that stimulates the contraction of the uterus, especially during childbirth. The term is derived from the Greek words "oxys" meaning sharp and "tokos" meaning birth.
Etymology
The term "Oxytocic" is derived from the Greek words "oxys" (sharp) and "tokos" (birth). It was first used in the medical field in the 19th century to describe substances that stimulate uterine contractions.
Usage
In medical practice, oxytocics are used to induce or augment labor, manage postpartum hemorrhage, and to induce abortion. The most commonly used oxytocic drug is oxytocin, a hormone naturally produced by the pituitary gland. Synthetic versions of this hormone are also used in medical practice.
Related Terms
- Oxytocin: A hormone produced by the pituitary gland that causes increased contraction of the uterus during labor and stimulates the ejection of milk into the ducts of the breasts.
- Pitocin: A synthetic form of oxytocin, used to induce labor or to strengthen uterine contractions.
- Postpartum Hemorrhage: Excessive bleeding following the birth of a baby.
- Uterus: The organ in the lower body of a woman or female mammal where offspring are conceived and in which they gestate before birth.
See Also
- Obstetrics: The branch of medicine and surgery concerned with childbirth and the care of women giving birth.
- Gynecology: The medical practice dealing with the health of the female reproductive systems and the breasts.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Oxytocic
- Wikipedia's article - Oxytocic
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