Many surgical procedure names can be broken into parts to indicate the meaning. For example, in gastrectomy, "ectomy" is a suffix meaning the removal of a part of the body. "Gastro-" means stomach. Thus, gastrectomy refers to the surgical removal of the stomach (or sections thereof). "Otomy" means cutting into a part of the body; a gastrotomy would be cutting into, but not necessarily removing, the stomach. In addition, "pharyngo" means pharynx, "laryngo" means larynx, and "esophag" means esophagus. Thus, "pharyngolaryngoesophagectomy" refers to the surgical removal of the three.
The field of minimally invasive surgery has spawned another set of words, such as arthroscopic or laparoscopic surgery. These take the same form as above; an arthroscope is a device which allows the inside of the joint to be seen.
List of common surgery terms
Prefixes mono- : one, from the Greek μόνος, , "only, single" angio-: related to a blood vessel, from the Greek αγγήϊον , "vessel", "container", "pot" arthr- : related to a joint, from the Greek άρθρον, , "joint" bi- : two, from the Latin prefix *bi, meaning "two". colono- related to the large intestine colon, from the Latin , "clause [of a poem]", itself from the Greek κωλον, cōlon, "clause, member, part" colpo-: related to the vagina, from the Ancient Greek κόλπος, , meaning "hollow space", but also a synonym for "womb" cysto- : related to the bladder, from the Greek κύστις, , "bladder, pouch" encephal- : related to the brain, from the Ancient Greek , itself from εν, en, "in", and , , meaning 'head'. gastr- : related to stomach, from the Greek γαστήρ, , "stomach" hepat- : related to the liver, from the latin , from the latin , Greek loanword, originally ηπαρ, , meaning "liver" hyster- : related to the uterus, from Neo-Latin hysteria, itself ultimately from the Greek ύστέρα, , meaning "womb, uterus" lamino- : related to the lamina (posterior aspect of vertebra) lapar- : related to the abdominal cavity Etymology actually refers to the soft, fleshy part of the abdominal wall. The term celio- is generally considered more accurate and more commonly used in America. lobo- : related to a lobe (of the brain or lungs), from the latin , ablative declension of , itself from the Greek λοβός, , "lobe", "pea-pod" mammo- and masto-: related to the breasts, from the latin mammas, "breast", and Greek μάσταζ mástaz, "chewer" myo-: related to muscle tissue, from the Greek μυς, mús, from μύσκυλος , "little mouse", so called because the Greeks believed that muscles looked like little mice. nephro- : related to the kidney from the Greek νεφρόν, , accusative declension of νεφρός, kidney oophor- : related to the ovary, from ωοφόρος, , meaning "egg-bearing" orchid- related to the testicles, from the Latin , itself from the Greek όρχις, , meaning "testicle" or sometimes "orchid," so called because the Greeks believed orchid roots looked like testicles. rhino- : related to the nose, from the Greek ρινός , genitive declension of ρίς , "nose" thoraco- : related to the chest vas- : related to a duct, usually the vas deferens, from the latin , meaning "vessel", or "vein"
Suffixes -centesis : surgical puncture -tripsy : crushing or breaking up - desis : fusion of two parts into one, stabilization -ectomy : surgical removal (see List of -ectomies). The term 'resection' is also used, especially when referring to a tumor. -opsy : looking at -oscopy: viewing of, normally with a scope -ostomy or -stomy: surgically creating a hole (a new "mouth" or "stoma", from the Greek στόμα (stóma), meaning "body", see List of -ostomies) -otomy or -tomy : surgical incision (see List of -otomies) -pexy : to fix or secure -plasty to modify or reshape (sometimes entails replacement with a prosthesis), from the Ancient Greek πλάστος, plástos, meaning "molded". -rrhaphy : to strengthen, usually with suture
Category Plasty Ectomy Stomy Otomy Other Central nervous systemCranioplastyLaminoplasty Decompressive craniectomy HemispherectomyDiscectomy Anterior temporal lobectomy Hypophysectomy AmygdalohippocampectomySequestrectomyPallidoansectomyLaminectomy Ventriculostomy AmygdalohippocampotomyCraniotomyCordotomy Pallidotomy Thalamotomy Lobotomy Bilateral cingulotomy Cordotomy RhizotomyTractotomyLaminotomyForaminotomy Neurosurgery Psychosurgery Brain biopsy Meningeal biopsy · TrepanningEpidural blood patch Peripheral nervous system Ganglionectomy Sympathectomy/Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy Neurectomy Axotomy Vagotomy Nerve biopsy Endocrine Hypophysectomy Thyroidectomy Parathyroidectomy Adrenalectomy PinealectomyTranssphenoidal surgeryIslet cell transplantation Eye Automated lamellar keratoplasty (ALK)conductive keratoplasty (CK)Laser thermal keratoplasty (LTK)BlepharoplastyCanaloplasty EpicanthoplastyPunctoplasty Trabeculoplasty Photorefractive keratectomy Trabeculectomy Refractive lensectomy Iridectomy Vitrectomy DacryocystorhinostomySclerostomy Radial keratotomy Mini Asymmetric Radial Keratotomy (M.A.R.K.)IridotomySclerotomyGoniotomyTrabeculotomy Anterior chamber paracentesisCataract surgeryCorneal transplantationEye transplantation KeratomileusisLaser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) Laser-assisted sub-epithelium keratomileusis (LASEK) TarsorrhaphySmall incision lenticule extractionLimbal relaxing incisions (LRI)Intrastromal corneal ring segments (Intacs)Phakic intraocular lens (PIOL) Ears OtoplastyMyringoplastyTympanoplasty Stapedectomy Mastoidectomy Auriculectomy MyringotomyNose, mouth and larynxAlarplastyRhinoplasty SeptoplastyCheiloplastyUvulopalatoplastyUvulopalatopharyngoplastyPalatoplastyGingivoplastyAlveoloplastyGlossoplastyApicoectomyGingivectomy GlossectomyRhinectomy Laryngectomy AdenoidectomyTonsillectomyLingual frenectomyLabial frenectomyUvulotomySinusotomy lateral rhinotomyGlossotomyPharyngeal flap surgery Respiratory PneumonectomyTurbinectomyLung lobectomyNeedle thoracostomyHemilaryngectomy Tracheostomy Pneumotomy Cricothyrotomy Thoracotomy Thyrotomy Tracheotomy Pleurodesis Lung transplantationWedge resectionDecorticationLung biopsy Cardiovascular Angioplasty Valvuloplasty Pericardiectomy Endarterectomy Cardiotomy Pericardiotomy Heart transplantation Hemic andLymphatic Thymectomy Splenectomy Lymphadenectomy Thymus transplantation Spleen transplantation Splenopexy Lymph node biopsy Digestive system Esophagectomy Gastrectomy Appendectomy Proctocolectomy Colectomy Hepatectomy Cholecystectomy PancreatectomyPancreaticoduodenectomy Gastrostomy (Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy) Gastroduodenostomy Gastroenterostomy Ileostomy Jejunostomy Colostomy Cholecystostomy Hepatoportoenterostomy Sigmoidostomy Myotomy (Heller myotomy Pyloromyotomy) Anal sphincterotomy Lateral internal sphincterotomy Vertical banded gastroplasty Gastropexy Colon resection Nissen fundoplication Hernia repair Omentopexy Liver biopsy Urinary Urethroplasty Pyeloplasty Nephrectomy Cystectomy Nephrostomy Ureterostomy Cystostomy (Suprapubic cystostomy) Urostomy Nephrotomy Nephropexy Urethropexy Lithotripsy Kidney transplantation Renal biopsy Male reproductive Phalloplasty Scrotoplasty Vasectomy Penectomy Orchidectomy ProstatectomyPosthectomy Gonadectomy Vasovasostomy Vasoepididymostomy Meatotomy Circumcision Foreskin restoration Orchiopexy Prostate biopsy Female reproductive Vaginoplasty VulvoplastyClitoroplasty Labiaplasty TuboplastyFimbrioplasty Cervicectomy Clitoridectomy Oophorectomy Salpingo-oophorectomy Salpingectomy Hysterectomy Vaginectomy Vestibulectomy Vulvectomy Salpingostomy Amniotomy Clitoridotomy Hysterotomy Hymenotomy Episiotomy Symphysiotomy Tubal ligation Tubal reversal Colporrhaphy Cesarean section Hymenorrhaphy Endometrial biopsy Bone,cartilage,and jointbone: Acromioplasty Kyphoplasty Mentoplasty Acromioplasty
joint: Arthroplasty Rotationplastybone: Ostectomy (ArytenoidectomyFemoral head ostectomy Vertebrectomy Coccygectomy Astragalectomy)Corpectomy Facetectomy Laminectomy (Hemilaminectomy)
joint: Synovectomy Discectomy bone: Osteotomy
joint: Arthrotomy Laminotomy Foraminotomybone: EpiphysiodesisBone biopsy
joint: Arthrodesis Arthroscopy Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction Muscle orsoft tissue Bursectomy amputation (Hemicorporectomy, Hemipelvectomy) Myotomy Tenotomy Fasciotomy Muscle biopsy Amputation Tendon transfer Breast Mammoplasty Lumpectomy Mastectomy Breast implant Mastopexy Breast reconstruction Breast reduction plastyBreast biopsy Skin V-plasty VY-plasty W-plasty Z-plasty Escharotomy Skin biopsy Other/ungrouped Abdominoplasty Hernioplasty Frenuloplasty Diverticulectomy Frenectomy Hemorrhoidectomy Mastoidectomy Thrombectomy Embolectomy Myomectomy Panniculectomy Ureterosigmoidostomy Fistulotomy Laparotomy Sphincterotomy Commissurotomy Abdominal surgery Inguinal hernia surgery BiopsyBone marrow biopsy Brostrom procedure Cauterization Grafting Hypnosurgery Laparoscopy NOTES Nuss procedure Radiosurgery
See also
Cardiac surgery Surgical drain Endoscopy Fluorescence image-guided surgery Hypnosurgery Jet ventilation List of -ectomies List of -otomies List of -ostomies :Category:Surgical procedures and techniques
External links Multimedia Manual of Cardiothoracic Surgery