anesthesiology /-ol″əjē/ , the branch of medicine that is concerned with the study and practice of anesthesia. It is a specialty requiring competency in general medicine, a broad understanding of surgical procedures, and a comprehensive knowledge of clinical obstetrics, chest medicine, neurology, pediatrics, pharmacology, biochemistry, cardiology, cardiovascular physiology, and respiratory physiology. See also anesthesiologist, certified registered nurse anesthetist.
