Exsanguinate: meaning, definitions and examples

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exsanguinate

 

[ ɪkˈsæŋɡ.juˌneɪt ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

medical procedure

To exsanguinate means to remove blood from a body, typically for a medical procedure or experiment. This term is often used in the context of surgeries or blood donation processes.

Synonyms

bleed, deplete, drain

Examples of usage

  • The surgeon had to exsanguinate the patient before the procedure.
  • In veterinary medicine, it is common to exsanguinate animals before certain tests.
  • The blood bank needs to exsanguinate volunteers to maintain supply levels.

Word origin

The word 'exsanguinate' originates from the Latin term 'exsanguinatus', which itself is derived from 'ex-' meaning 'out of' or 'away from', and 'sanguis' meaning 'blood'. The term has evolved over centuries and has been used in medical and scientific contexts since at least the late 19th century. Initially, its use was limited to discussions of blood loss in medical texts, but it has since broadened to encompass various procedures that involve the removal of blood. The connotation of exsanguination often implies a degree of thoroughness or totality in the process of blood removal, distinguishing it from less complete forms of blood loss.