dis
sec
tion
Plural
dissections
1
the act of cutting apart or separation of tissues, organs, etc. during anatomical study or investigation
- Through careful dissection, the biologist was able to identify the anatomical structures that differentiate male and female specimens of the species.
- During the anatomy lab, students worked meticulously on the dissection of a frog's circulatory system to locate valves, vessels and chambers.
- In the surgical dissection, the doctor precisely separated the tumor from the surrounding healthy tissues to remove it intact.
2
a systematic examination and evaluation of a complex topic by breaking it down into its individual elements
- As part of their research, the engineers performed a dissection of multiple failed prototypes to pinpoint design flaws and fabrication errors.
- The computer scientist's skillful dissection of source code bugs allowed for accurate diagnosis and targeted repair.
- Through elegant dissection of poetry images and metaphors, the critic unveiled richer layers of artistic expression.
3
detailed critical analysis or examination one part at a time (as of a literary work)