Each week, Verywell explains a term from health, medicine, science, or technology.Word of the Week: IntravenousHow to say it:Intravenous(in-tra-vee-nuss)What it means: In a vein.Where it comes from: FromLatin, “intra” = inside and “venous” = vein.DataBase Center for Life Science (DBCLS)/Wikimedia CommonsWhere you might see or hear it: If you are in the hospital andneed medicine, you might get an “IV” put in your arm. “IV” stands for “intravenous. It means that the medicine is being given to you through a vein rather than in your mouth (like it would be if you took a pill).When you might want to use it: If your child has to have surgery, they willget an IVput into their arm give them medication to help them relax and fall asleep before the procedure.You can use simple explanations to help them understand—especially if they are afraid that the needle will hurt.However, it’s also an opportunity to teach them a new word. The two parts of the word are concepts that they already know: Intra means “inside” and “venous” is vein (which you can point to on their arm).What Is IV Sedation?

Each week, Verywell explains a term from health, medicine, science, or technology.

Word of the Week: Intravenous

How to say it:Intravenous(in-tra-vee-nuss)

What it means: In a vein.

Where it comes from: FromLatin, “intra” = inside and “venous” = vein.

DataBase Center for Life Science (DBCLS)/Wikimedia Commons

An illustration of a male person in a hospital bed with an IV pole next to them.

Where you might see or hear it: If you are in the hospital andneed medicine, you might get an “IV” put in your arm. “IV” stands for “intravenous. It means that the medicine is being given to you through a vein rather than in your mouth (like it would be if you took a pill).

When you might want to use it: If your child has to have surgery, they willget an IVput into their arm give them medication to help them relax and fall asleep before the procedure.

You can use simple explanations to help them understand—especially if they are afraid that the needle will hurt.

However, it’s also an opportunity to teach them a new word. The two parts of the word are concepts that they already know: Intra means “inside” and “venous” is vein (which you can point to on their arm).

What Is IV Sedation?

SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Merriam-Webster.Definition of intravenous.

Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Merriam-Webster.Definition of intravenous.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Merriam-Webster.Definition of intravenous.

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