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caesarean section A procedure in which an infant is surgically removed from the uterus rather than being born vaginally. Caesarean sections were performed in ancient civilizations to salvage babies upon the death of nearly full-term pregnant women. Julius Caesar is said to have been born by this procedure, hence the name. The term section in surgery refers to the division of tissue. In the case of a caesarean section, the abdominal wall of the mother and the wall of the uterus are divided in order to extract the baby. Also known as C-section.