Noninvasive has the following meanings in the field of medicine:

1. A descriptive term for a procedure that does not require an instrument or device to be inserted into the body through the skin or through a body opening for diagnosis or treatment. An example would be placing a medicated patch onto the skin or taking somebody's blood pressure.

2. Not tending to spread, enter, or intrude into, through, or throughout something (such as healthy tissue).

Noninvasive comes from the Latin word "non" meaning "not," the Latin word "in" meaning "within," and the Latin word "vadere" meaning "to go." Put the words together and you have "not to go within."

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