phlebotomy
fli-BOT-uh-mee
/flɪˈbɒtəmi/
The act, practice, or medical procedure of opening or puncturing a vein to withdraw blood.
Usually refers to blood collection for diagnostic testing or donation, but can also be a therapeutic treatment for conditions like hemochromatosis.
The story behind the word. The word comes directly from ancient Greek medical traditions where 'cutting a vein' was believed to cure illnesses by releasing excess blood. Today, we no longer cut veins to balance humors, but the name remains for the precise, sterile science of drawing blood.
Word relationships
- venesection: An older, more formal term that often implies a larger incision rather than a simple needle puncture.
- bloodletting: An archaic, historical term associated with balancing bodily humors rather than modern diagnostic drawing.
Commonly confused with
- venipuncture: Venipuncture is the physical act of puncturing the vein, while phlebotomy is the entire practice or profession of drawing blood.
Word family
- phlebotomist (noun): A person trained and certified to draw blood from a patient.
Collocations
- therapeutic phlebotomy
- phlebotomy technician
- phlebotomy tray
Example sentences
- "She enrolled in a specialized course to master the precise hand-eye coordination required for phlebotomy." Medical training program
Memory hook
Imagine a flea (phle-) biting a vein to get blood, but done professionally in a lab. Phlebo (vein) + Tomy (cutting).
When not to use
Do not use when referring to inserting an IV line for administering fluids, which is venipuncture or cannulation.
Fun facts
- George Washington died shortly after having a massive amount of blood removed via therapeutic phlebotomy to treat a throat infection.
Related words
Explore more words
hemostasis, acupuncture, catheter, hemorrhage, therapeutic, dermatology
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