peri-

(Greek: around, enclosing, surrounding, about, near, close; often used as a prefix)

perimysium (s), perimysia (pl)
1. The connective tissue surrounding bundles of skeletal muscle fibers.
2. The sheath of connective tissue enveloping bundles of muscle fibers.
perinatal (adjective), more perinatal, most perinatal
1. Occurring during or pertaining to the phase surrounding the time of birth, from the twentieth week of gestation to the twenty-eighth day of newborn life: The time of perinatal life for a newborn can be problematic for both the baby and the mother and care should be provided for such cases.

The perinatal period is defined in various ways. Depending on the definition, it starts at the 20th to 28th week of gestation and ends one to four weeks after birth.
2. Etymology: The word perinatal is a hybrid of the Greek "peri-" meaning "around or about" and "natal" from the Latin "natus" meaning "born."

perinatologist (s) (noun), perinatologists (pl)
An obstetrical expert or subspecialist concerned with the care of the mother and fetus at higher-than-normal risk for complications: Because Rose was older than normal for expecting her first baby, she was cared for by a perinatologist in the hospital, who made sure that she received any medical treatment necessary before giving birth to her newborn.

A perinatologist logically could be an obstetrician or pediatrician, but in practice, a perinatologist is an obstetrician.

The comparable area of pediatrics is neonatology. A high-risk baby might be cared for by a perinatologist before birth and by a neonatologist after birth.

perinatology (s) (noun) (not comparable)
1. A subspecialty of obstetrics concerned with the care of the mother and fetus at higher-than-normal risk for complications: Since Kitty loved babies and little children she decided to study perinatology and work as a doctor later on.

Since the perinatal period, depending on the definition, starts at the 20th to 28th week of gestation and ends one to four weeks after birth, perinatology logically could be an obstetrical and pediatric subspecialty, but in practice, it is part of obstetrics.

The comparable area of pediatrics is "neonatology". A high-risk baby might be cared for by a "perinatologist" before birth and by a "neonatologist" after birth.
2. Etymology: The word perinatology is a linguistic combination of the Greek peri-, "around" or "about" plus natal from the Latin natus, "born" plus ology from the Greek logos, "treatise" or "study of".

perineocele
A hernia in the perineal region, either between the rectum and the vagina or the rectum and the bladder, or alongside the rectum.
perineometer
Instrument used to measure the strength of voluntary muscle contractions of the perineum.
perineoplasty
Plastic surgery of the perineum.
perineorrhaphy
Suture of the perineum, performed in perineoplasty.
perineoscrotal
Relating to the perineum and the scrotum.
perineostomy
Urethrostomy through the perineum.
perineosynthesis
Rarely used term for perineoplasty in a case of extensive laceration of the perineum.
perineotomy
Incision into the perineum to facilitate childbirth.
perineovaginal
Relating to the perineum and the vagina.
perinephral
A reference to the capsule of connective tissue that surrounds the kidney.
perinephrial
Relating to the perinephrium.

Related "around, round, surrounding" units: ambi-; ampho-; circ-; circum-; cyclo-, -cycle; gyro-.