hysterectomy (his-ter-ek'to-me)

Removal of the uterus by a cutting operation. abdominal h. H. through the abdominal wall, supra vaginal h. Amputation of the uterus at the cervix, vaginal h. H. through the vagina. [Gr., ystera, the cut] womb, -fek, out, + temnein, to hysteria (his-te're-ah). An affection of the nervous system long supposed to proceed from some disturbance of the uterus (hence the name). It is a psychoneurosis in which psychical symbols are converted into physical symptoms, anxiety h. A severe type of h. with marked anxiety often mistaken for melancholia. epidemic h. H. or hysteria like disturbances apparently acquired by a ociation with hysterical patients. epileptiform h., epileptoid h. Hystero-epilepsy. h. major. See hystero-epilepsy. [Gr., ystera, womb.]