- tractotomy
- Interruption of a nerve tract in the brainstem or spinal cord. [L. tractus, tract, + G. tome, incision]- anterolateral t. SYN: anterolateral cordotomy.- intramedullary t. SYN: trigeminal t..- pyramidal t. may be mesencephalic (pedunculotomy or crusotomy), medullary (medullary pyramidotomy), or spinal (spinal pyramidotomy).- Sjöqvist t. SYN: trigeminal t..- spinal t. SYN: anterolateral cordotomy.- spinothalamic t. may be spinal (cordotomy), medullary (Schwartz t.), or mesencephalic (Walker t.).- trigeminal t. division of the descending fibers of the trigeminal tract in the medulla. SYN: intramedullary t., Sjöqvist t..- Walker t. a mesencephalic spinothalamic t..
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n.a neurosurgical operation for the relief of intractable pain. The nerve fibres that carry painful sensation to consciousness travel from the spinal cord through the brainstem in the spinothalamic tracts. This procedure is designed to sever the tracts within the medulla oblongata. See also cordotomy.* * *
trac·tot·o·my (trak-totґə-me) surgical severing or incising of a nerve tract.
Medical dictionary. 2011.