stereotactic

ster·e·o·tax·is   (stěr'ē-ə-tāk'sĭs, stîr'-)    n.   A method in neurosurgery and neurological research for locating points within the brain using an external, three-dimensional frame of reference usually based on the Cartesian coordinate system. Movement of an organism in response to contact with a solid body. Also called thigmotaxis. ster'e·o·tac'tic (-tāk'tĭk), ster'e·o·tax'ic (-tāk'sĭk), ster'e·o·tac'ti·cal (-tāk'tĭ-kəl), ster'e·o·tax'i·cal (-tāk'sĭ-kəl) adj., ster'e·o·tac'ti·cal·ly, ster'e·o·tax'i·cal·ly adv.

Main Entry: ste·reo·tac·tic
Pronunciation: "ster-E-&-'tak-tik, "stir-
Function: adjective
: involving, being, utilizing, or used ina surgical technique for precisely directing the tip of a delicate instrument (as a needle) or beam of radiation in three planes using coordinates provided by medical imaging (as computed tomography)in order to reach a specific locus in the body (as a tumor in the brain or breast) stereotactic biopsy> stereotactic surgical probe> —ste·reo·tac·ti·cal·ly /-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb

stereotaxis ster·e·o·tax·is (stěr'ē-ə-tāk'sĭs, stēr'-) or ster·e·o·tax·y (stěr'ē-ə-tāk'sē, stēr'-)
n.

1. A method in neurosurgery and neurological research for precisely locating points within the brain using an external, 3-dimensional frame of reference. Also called stereoencephalotomy, stereotactic surgery.

2. Movement of an organism in response to contact with a solid body. Also called thigmotaxis.

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ster'e·o·tac'tic (-tāk'tĭk) or ster'e·o·tax'ic (-tāk'sĭk) or ster'e·o·tac'ti·cal (-tāk'tĭ-kəl) or ster'e·o·tax'i·cal (-tāk'sĭ-kəl) adj.