intrathecal

[ in-truh-thee-kuhl ]

adjective

1. Anatomy. situated within the thecal sac: covering the spinal cord.
2. Medicine/Medical. administered into the thecal sac:

   intrathecal injections.

noun

1. Pharmacology. anesthesia administered into the thecal sac:

   She was given an intrathecal during labor.

Other Words From

• in·tra·the·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of intrathecal¹

First recorded in 1885–90; intra- ( def ) + theca ( def ) + -al ¹( def )