Definition

The act of puncturing a vein to draw blood or give medicine.

Example

The nurse performed a venipuncture to collect a blood sample for testing.

Conversation

Have you ever had to get a venipuncture done at the hospital?

Yeah, I had it done last month for some tests.

Was it painful? I always worry about those needles.

It wasn't too bad, just a quick poke and it was over.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Venipuncture is formed from "ven" (from Latin "vena", meaning vein) and "puncture" (from Latin "punctura", meaning a prick or a hole). The word describes the act of making a puncture in a vein, typically for the purpose of drawing blood or administering medication.

Memory Tip

Think of 'vein' ('ven') and 'prick' ('puncture') to remember that venipuncture means making a small hole in a vein.

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