extracorporeal

adjective

ex·​tra·​cor·​po·​re·​al ˌek-strə-kȯr-ˈpȯr-ē-əl How to pronounce extracorporeal (audio)
: occurring or based outside the living body
the heart-lung machine maintains extracorporeal circulation during heart surgery
extracorporeally adverb

Examples of extracorporeal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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These results surpassed all prior attempts at extracorporeal fetal support. Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 28 Mar. 2026 Porter said he was placed on an ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) machine, which, according to Mayo Clinic, pumps blood outside of the body to a heart-lung machine, removes carbon dioxide from the blood and sends oxygen-rich blood back to the body. Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026 On top of all of those practices, John also routinely undergoes extracorporeal blood oxygenation and ozonation treatments, which essentially serves as blood filtration—sort of like dialysis. Sydney Lake, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2026 While connected to an extracorporeal membrane oxygen machine — which serves as a life-support system that acts as an artificial heart and lung — since Monday, the machine was responsible for 85% of the blood being pumped through his body. Rick Cantu, Austin American Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for extracorporeal

Word History

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of extracorporeal was in 1865

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Cite this Entry

“Extracorporeal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extracorporeal. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.

Medical Definition

extracorporeal

adjective
ex·​tra·​cor·​po·​re·​al -kȯr-ˈpōr-ē-əl, -ˈpȯr- How to pronounce extracorporeal (audio)
: occurring or based outside the living body
heart surgery employing extracorporeal circulation
extracorporeally adverb
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