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Related terms:
gynecology
orthopedics
urology
Occupation or Discipline
obstetrics Audio
ob·stet·rics [ uh b-ste-triks ]
Subclass of:
Specialties, Surgical
Etymology:
Latin obstare = to stand before, as the obstetrician does
In Rome, obstetrician meant the management of childbirth, and an obstetrix was a midwife.
Definitions related to discipline of obstetrics:
  • (obstetrics) A medical-surgical specialty concerned with management and care of women during pregnancy, parturition, and the puerperium.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
  • (obstetrics) A medical-surgical specialty dealing with the care of a woman and her offspring during pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (the period shortly after birth).
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • (obstetrics) For thorough searching see RTs.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
  • Obstetrics and gynecology, medical/surgical specialty concerned with the care of women from pregnancy until after delivery and with the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the female reproductive tract. The medical care of pregnant women (obstetrics) and of female genital diseases (gynecology)...
    Encyclopedia Britannica
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2025
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This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.

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