How to Pronounce Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy Pronunciation
seh-LEK-tiv DOR-sal ry-ZOT-oh-mee
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
seh
LEK
stress here
tiv DOR
sal ry
ZOT
stress here
oh
mee
7 syllables
What is Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy?
A surgical procedure that selectively cuts sensory nerve roots entering the spinal cord to permanently reduce muscle spasticity, most commonly in children with spastic cerebral palsy. It targets the specific nerve fibers causing abnormal muscle tone while preserving normal sensation and movement.
Questions About Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy
How do you pronounce 'Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy'?
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Say it like this: seh-LEK-tiv DOR-sal ry-ZOT-oh-mee. The stress falls on the second syllable of the first word (LEK) and the first syllable of the third word (ZOT). Think of it as three separate medical words strung together, with the emphasis on LEK and ZOT.
What does 'selective' mean in this term?
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Selective means 'choosing specific things' rather than everything. In this medical term, it tells you that the procedure targets only certain nerve fibers, not all of them. It comes from the Latin word 'selectus,' which means 'chosen' or 'picked out.'
What do 'dorsal' and 'rhizotomy' mean?
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'Dorsal' comes from Latin and means 'of the back' — it describes the back part of the spinal cord where sensory nerves enter. 'Rhizotomy' combines two Greek roots: 'rhiza' (root) and 'tome' (cut), so it literally means 'cutting nerve roots.' Together, the term means cutting specific sensory nerve roots at the back of the spine.
What is the easiest way to break this word into syllables?
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Break it into three main parts: Se-LEC-tive (3 syllables) | DOR-sal (2 syllables) | rhi-ZOT-o-my (4 syllables). If you say each part separately first, then speed them up together, you'll get the full pronunciation right.
What's a common mistake people make when saying this word?
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Many people put the stress on the wrong syllable in 'rhizotomy' — they say ry-zo-TAH-mee instead of ry-ZOT-oh-mee. Remember: the stress goes on the second syllable (ZOT), not the third one. Practice saying 'ZOT' loudly and you'll get it.
Is there a shorter way to refer to this procedure?
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Yes, doctors sometimes abbreviate it as SDR. You would say each letter separately: 'S-D-R.' This shorthand is used in medical settings when people want to save time, but the full name is always clearer when you're learning the term.
What other medical words share the 'rhizotomy' root?
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Other procedures ending in '-otomy' or '-ectomy' follow the same pattern of cutting or removing body parts. You might also hear 'rhizotomy' on its own, or paired with different terms like 'lumbar rhizotomy' (cutting nerve roots in the lower spine). The '-otomy' ending always signals a cutting procedure.
How would you use this term in a simple sentence?
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You might hear someone say: 'The surgeon recommended a selective dorsal rhizotomy to address the patient's muscle stiffness.' This sentence tells you it's a surgical procedure that a doctor would recommend for a specific medical reason.