motion-preserving
|mo-tion-pres-erv-ing|
🇺🇸
/ˈmoʊʃən prɪˈzɝvɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/ˈməʊʃən prɪˈzɜːvɪŋ/
maintain natural movement
Etymology
'motion-preserving' is a modern compound of 'motion' + 'preserving'. 'motion' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'motio', where 'mot-' meant 'to move'. 'preserving' originates from Latin, specifically the verb 'praeservare', where 'prae-' meant 'before' and 'servare' meant 'to keep'.
'motion' entered English via Old French 'motion' from Latin 'motio'. 'preserve' came into English via Old French 'preserver' from Latin 'praeservare'. The compound 'motion-preserving' developed in modern medical English (late 20th century) to contrast techniques that maintain movement with those that fuse or fixate joints.
Individually, 'motion' meant 'movement' and 'preserve' meant 'to keep or protect'. Over time the compound 'motion-preserving' acquired a specialized medical sense: 'designed to maintain physiological movement of a joint or spinal segment' rather than merely the general idea of keeping motion.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the approach or property of preserving physiological movement (often used in medical contexts: 'motion preservation').
Motion-preserving is an increasingly common goal in spinal surgery to maintain patient mobility.
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Adjective 1
designed or intended to preserve natural movement (often of a joint or spinal segment) rather than to restrict or fuse it.
The surgeon recommended a motion-preserving procedure instead of fusion for the patient's lumbar segment.
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Last updated: 2025/12/11 09:04