dissection

(dis-ek′shŏn )

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[ ¹dis- + section ]

1. Separation of tissues with sharp instruments (sharp dissection) or blunt instruments (blunt dissection) along tissue planes during surgery or autopsy.
2. A surgical procedure to expose and excise certain tissues, e.g., regional lymph node dissection.
3. The ripping or tearing of a vascular structure, e.g., at a site of trauma or within an aneurysm.

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