AMNIOCENTESIS

[am.nio.cen.te.sis] n, pl -te.ses [NL, fr. amnion + centesis puncture, fr. Gk kentesis, fr. kentein to prick--more at center] (1957): the surgical insertion of a hollow needle through the abdominal wall and into the uterus to obtain amniotic fluid esp. for the determination of fetal sex or chromosomal abnormality