stereotaxy
n. determination of the exact location of a specific area within the body (e.g., the exact location of a nerve center in the brain) by means of three-dimensional measurements. Stereotaxy is used for positioning microelectrodes, cannulas, or other devices in the brain for experimental, diagnostic, or therapeutic purposes and for locating an area of the brain prior to surgery. It involves the coordinated use of a stereotactic atlas, a map of the brain featuring a coordinate system and consisting of images and schematic representations of nerve fibers and other structures and serial sections of the brain, and a stereotactic instrument, a device that prohibits damage to neighboring tissues by holding the individual’s head absolutely still in the appropriate position. Also called stereotactic localization; stereotactic technique. —stereotactic or stereotaxic
adj.