Overview
This lecture introduces core medical terminology for surgery, focusing on common prefixes and suffixes used to describe surgical procedures, instruments, and types of tissue grafts.
Surgical Suffixes and Their Meanings
- -ectomy means removal or excision (e.g., splenectomy: removal of spleen).
- -otomy means incision or cutting (e.g., tracheotomy: incision into the trachea).
- -sect means to cut (e.g., dissect: to cut apart).
- -ostomy means to create a hole/opening (e.g., ileostomy: create an opening in ileum).
- -plasty means surgical repair (e.g., tympanoplasty: repair of tympanic membrane).
- -pexy means fixation (e.g., orchiopexy: fixation of testicle).
- -rrhaphy means suturing (e.g., enterorrhaphy: suturing intestines).
- -desis means surgical union or fixation (e.g., fasciodesis: binding fascia).
- -lysis means irrigation or washing (e.g., proctolysis: washing out rectum).
- -centesis means removal of fluid (e.g., arthrocentesis: joint fluid removal).
- -tripsy means crushing (e.g., lithotripsy: crushing stones).
- -puncture means puncture (e.g., acupuncture: puncture with needle).
Diagnostic and Instrumentation Suffixes
- -opsy means examination or inspection (e.g., biopsy: examination of tissue).
- -metry means measurement (e.g., optometry: measuring eyes).
- -scopy means to view (e.g., endoscopy: viewing inside the body).
- -graph/-graphy/-gram refer to recording or process of recording (e.g., electrocardiogram: recording heart’s electrical activity).
- -scope means instrument for viewing.
- -tome means instrument for incision.
- -meter means instrument for measurement.
Related Prefixes and Terms
- echo-, sono-, phono- mean sound (e.g., echocardiogram).
- electro- means electrical (e.g., electrocardiogram).
- per-, dia- mean through (e.g., percutaneous: through the skin, dialysis: separation through membrane).
- stoma means artificial opening.
Types of Tissue Grafts
- auto- means self (autograft: graft from same person).
- allo- means other (allograft: graft from another human).
- xeno- means different species (xenograft: graft from another species).
Practice Word Breakdowns
- Colostomy: creating an opening in the colon.
- Lithotripsy: crushing a stone.
- Electrocardiogram: recording electrical activity of the heart.
- Thoracentesis: removing fluid from the thorax/chest.
- Arthrodesis: surgical fixation of a joint.
- Hypodermolysis: washing/irrigation under the skin.
- Nephropexy: surgical fixation of the kidney.
- Gastrorrhaphy: suturing the stomach.
- Optometry: measuring and examining the eyes.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Excision (-ectomy) — removal of body part.
- Incision (-otomy) — cutting into tissue.
- Suturing (-rrhaphy) — stitching tissue.
- Fixation (-pexy, -desis) — securing in place.
- Recording (-graph/-gram) — documenting findings.
- Viewing (-scopy) — visually examining.
- Graft (auto-, allo-, xeno-) — tissue transfer sources.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review and memorize key surgical prefixes and suffixes.
- Practice breaking down medical terms using provided examples.
- Prepare for a quiz on medical terminology related to surgery.