Medical terminology for surgeons: procedures, instruments

GlobalRPh Medical Terminology Section

Medical terminology for surgeons pertaining to surgical instruments and well as surgical and diagnostic procedures

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-centesis

surgical puncture

amniocentesis (surgical puncture of the amniotic sac to remove fluid for laboratory analysis; an obstetrical procedure)

 

-clasis

crushing or breaking up

osteoclasis (intentional surgical fracture of a bone to correct a deformity)

 

-desis

binding or surgical fusion

arthrodesis (fixation of a joint by a procedure designed to accomplish fusion of the joint surfaces)

 

–ectomy

surgical removal

appendectomy (surgical removal of the appendix)

 

-gram

record or picture

electrocardiogram (record of the electrical activity of the heart)

 

-graph

an instrument used to record

electrocardiograph (instrument used to record the electrical activity of the heart

 

-graphy

process of recording

electrocardiography (the process of recording the electrical activity of the heart)

 

-ize

to make; to treat or combine with

anesthetize (to induce a state of anesthesia; to make one “feelingless”)

 

-lysis

destruction or detachment

dialysis (the removal or detachment of certain elements from the blood or lymph by passing them through a semipermeable membrane

 

-meter

an instrument used to measure

pelvimeter (instrument used to measure the diameter and capacity of the pelvis)

 

-metry

the process of measuring

pelvimetry (process of measuring the dimensions of the pelvis)

 

-opsy

process of viewing

biopsy (removal of a small piece of living tissue from an organ or part of the body for “viewing” under a microscope)

 

-pexy

surgical fixation

colpopexy (surgical fixation of a relaxed vaginal wall)

 

-plasty

surgical repair

rhinoplasty (surgical repair of the nose in which the structure of the nose is changed)

 

-rrhaphy

suturing

nephrorrhaphy (the operation of suturing the kidney)

 

-scope

an instrument used to view

ophthalmoscope (instrument used to view the interior of the eye)

 

-copy

the process of viewing with a scope

ophthalmoscopy (the process of using an ophthalmoscope to view the interior of the eye)

 

-stomy

the surgical creation of a new opening

colostomy (surgical creation of a new opening between the colon and the surface of the body)

 

-tomy

incision into

phlebotomy (incision into a vein)

 

-tripsy

intentional crushing

lithotripsy (crushing of a stone in the bladder; may be accomplished by ultrasound or by laser)

 

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