Fixatio

Fixatio is a Latin noun meaning the act of fixing, fastening, or securing something. In modern English-language scholarly writing, fixatio is primarily encountered as the Latin root behind the term fixation, used across medicine, biology, and philosophy.

In medical and surgical contexts, fixation refers to immobilization of a structure to allow healing. Internal fixation (fixatio interna) and external fixation (fixatio externa) describe devices used to stabilize fractures or bones. The concept encompasses techniques that physically secure bones or tissues to achieve proper alignment and stability during recovery.

In histology and pathology, fixation denotes the preservation of tissues by chemical fixatives, such as formaldehyde, to prevent degradation and prepare specimens for examination. Fixation is a crucial preparatory step for microscopic analysis and downstream staining.

In psychology, fixation is a developmental concept from psychoanalysis, describing persistence at an early stage of development. While fixatio is the Latin source word, the English clinical and theoretical term is fixation.

Originating from the Latin fixare “to fasten,” fixatio appears mainly in historical or Latinized forms within medical and scientific literature. In contemporary usage, fixation remains the standard English term, with fixatio encountered primarily in scholarly titles, translations, or discussions of etymology.