Cirsectomy

/sɝːˈsɛktəmi/ noun

Definition

A surgical procedure in which varicose veins are removed or ligated (tied off) to improve blood circulation and appearance.

Etymology

From Latin cirsus/cirsos (varicose vein, meaning 'like ivy' because of their twisted appearance) + -ectomy (surgical removal, from Greek ektome). Medical term for vein removal surgery.

Kelly Says

The term 'cirsos' literally means 'ivy-like,' because ancient doctors thought the twisted veins resembled ivy climbing a tree—they saw nature's patterns in disease!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.