Inducing loss of feeling or consciousness
1. n. an agent that reduces or abolishes sensation, affecting either the whole body (general anaesthetic) or a particular area or region (local anaesthetic). General anaesthetics, used for surgical procedures, depress activity of the central nervous system, producing loss of consciousness. *Anaesthesia is induced by intravenous anaesthetics, such as *thiopental, etomidate, or propofol, and maintained by inhalation anaesthetics (such as *sevoflurane). Local anaesthetics inhibit conduction of impulses in sensory nerves in the region where they are injected or applied; they include *tetracaine, *bupivacaine, and *lidocaine. 2. adj. reducing or abolishing sensation.
loss of feeling or sensation; substance which causes such a loss.
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