Decortication

Removal of part or all of the outer surface of an organ such as the lung, kidney, or brain.

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1. Removal of the cortex, or external layer, beneath the capsule from any organ or structure. 2. An operation for removal of the residual clot and/or newly organized scar tissue that form after a hemothorax or neglected empyema. [L. decortico, pp. -atus, to deprive of bark, fr. de, from, + cortex, rind, bark]

- cerebral d. destruction of the cerebral cortex, usually due to anoxia.

- reversible d. a temporary loss of function of the cerebral cortex.

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de·cor·ti·ca·tion (.)dē-.kȯrt-i-'kā-shən n the surgical removal of the cortex of an organ, an enveloping membrane, or a constrictive fibrinous covering <the \decortication of a lung>

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n.

1. the removal of the outside layer (cortex) from an organ or structure, such as the kidney.

2. an operation for removing the blood clot and scar tissue that forms after bleeding into the chest cavity (haemothorax).

3. (decapsulation) the surgical removal of a capsule from an organ; for example, the stripping of the membrane that envelops the kidney or of the inflammatory capsule that encloses a chronic abscess, as in the treatment of empyema.

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de·cor·ti·ca·tion (de-kor″tĭ-kaґshən) [de- + cortex] 1. the removal of bark, hull, husk, or shell from a plant, seed, or root, as in pharmacy. 2. removal of portions of the cortex of a structure or organ, as of the brain, kidney, or lung.