Surgery - Glossary of Surgical Terminology

Abduct

Abduct means movement of an extremity away from the midline of the body.

Adduct

Adduct means movement of an extremity towards the midline of the body.

Adeno-

The prefix adeno- refers to glands or glandular tissue.

Afferent

Afferent means travelling or conducting towards a central structure.

Anastomosis

An anastomosis is a surgically created connection between two tubular structures, such as two segments of bowel or two blood vessels.

Angio-

The prefix angio- refers to blood vessels.

Anomalous

Anomalous means deviating from what is considered normal or expected.

Aseptic

Aseptic refers to the complete absence of disease-causing microorganisms or to measures used to prevent microbial contamination.

Atelectasis

Atelectasis refers to collapse of the alveoli, resulting in partial or complete loss of lung volume in the affected area.

Atresia

Atresia is the congenital absence or abnormal narrowing of a normal opening or lumen. The adjective is atretic.

Biopsy

A biopsy is a sample of tissue obtained from the body and sent for histopathological examination to establish a diagnosis.

Cachexia

Cachexia is generalized wasting and loss of body mass associated with chronic disease or malignancy. A patient affected by this condition may be described as cachectic.

Calculus

A calculus is a stone or solid concretion formed within the body, such as a renal or biliary calculus.

Calor

Calor is one of the classic signs of inflammation and refers to increased warmth in the affected area.

Caseation

Caseation is the breakdown of diseased tissue into a soft, cheese-like material. The adjective is caseous.

Caudal

Caudal means relating to or directed towards the lower part of the body.

Cephal-

The prefix cephal- refers to the head.

Cicatrix

A cicatrix is a scar formed after healing of damaged tissue.

Colic

Colic is pain that occurs in waves, usually due to contraction or obstruction of a hollow or tubular organ.

Curettage

Curettage is the scraping of the internal surface of an organ or body cavity using a spoon-shaped surgical instrument known as a curette.

Cyst

A cyst is an abnormal sac lined by epithelium and containing fluid or semi-solid material.

Diaphoresis

Diaphoresis refers to excessive or profuse sweating.

Diverticulum

A diverticulum is a small sac or pouch projecting from the wall of a hollow organ. A true diverticulum contains all the layers of the parent organ, as in Meckel’s diverticulum. A pseudodiverticulum contains only some of the normal wall layers, as commonly seen in diverticular disease of the colon.

Dolor

Dolor is one of the classic signs of inflammation and refers to pain.

Dysphagia

Dysphagia means difficulty swallowing. It should be distinguished from odynophagia, which means painful swallowing.

Ecchymosis

Ecchymosis refers to bruising caused by bleeding into the tissues beneath the skin.

-ectomy

The suffix -ectomy means surgical removal of an organ or structure. For example, parotidectomy is surgical removal of the parotid gland.

Epistaxis

Epistaxis means bleeding from the nose, commonly referred to as a nosebleed.

Excision Biopsy

An excision biopsy is a biopsy in which the entire lesion or tumour is removed for histopathological examination.

Fistula

A fistula is an abnormal epithelialized communication between two epithelial surfaces, organs, or body cavities.

Frequency

Urinary frequency refers to abnormally frequent urination.

Functio Laesa

Functio laesa is one of the classic signs of inflammation and refers to loss or impairment of function.

Haemangioma

A haemangioma is a benign tumour or proliferation of blood vessels.

Haematemesis

Haematemesis means vomiting of blood, usually indicating bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Haematoma

A haematoma is a localized collection of blood within tissues that forms a swelling or mass. It may resolve spontaneously or may become secondarily infected.

Haematuria

Haematuria refers to the presence of blood in the urine.

Haemoptysis

Haemoptysis refers to coughing up blood originating from the respiratory tract.

Haemothorax

A haemothorax is the accumulation of blood within the pleural space.

Hesitancy

Urinary hesitancy refers to difficulty in initiating the flow of urine.

Icterus

Icterus is another term for jaundice, characterized by yellow discoloration of the skin, sclerae, and mucous membranes due to elevated bilirubin levels.

Incisional Biopsy

An incisional biopsy is a biopsy in which only part of a lesion or tumour is removed for histopathological examination rather than removing the entire lesion.

Induration

Induration refers to abnormal hardening of a tissue or organ, often caused by inflammation, infiltration, or fibrosis.

Intussusception

Intussusception occurs when one segment of the bowel telescopes into an adjacent segment of bowel, potentially causing intestinal obstruction and impairment of blood supply.

Laparoscopy

Laparoscopy is the visualization of the peritoneal cavity using a laparoscope inserted through small incisions. It uses optical technology to allow inspection and surgical procedures within the abdomen.

Laparotomy

A laparotomy is the surgical opening of the abdominal cavity through an incision.

Lumen

The lumen is the cavity or internal space within a tubular organ, such as the bowel or a blood vessel. The adjective is luminal.

Melaena

Melaena refers to black, tarry stools caused by digested blood, most commonly due to bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Nocturia

Nocturia refers to abnormal urination during the night, typically requiring the patient to wake from sleep to pass urine.

Obstipation

Obstipation is the complete inability to pass either stool or flatus and may indicate severe intestinal obstruction.

Odynophagia

Odynophagia means painful swallowing.

Orchid-

The prefix orchid- refers to the testis or testicles.

-orrhaphy

The suffix -orrhaphy refers to surgical repair by suturing. For example, herniorrhaphy is the surgical repair of a hernia.

-ostomy

The suffix -ostomy refers to the surgical creation of an opening or stoma. For example, a colostomy is a surgically created opening of the colon onto the abdominal wall.

-otomy

The suffix -otomy refers to a surgical incision into an organ or structure. For example, a laparotomy involves making an incision into the abdominal cavity.

-pexy

The suffix -pexy refers to the surgical fixation of an organ or structure. For example, orchidopexy is surgical fixation of the testis.

Phlegmon

A phlegmon is a solid, swollen, inflamed mass of tissue. In pancreatitis, the term may be used to describe an inflammatory pancreatic mass.

Pneumaturia

Pneumaturia refers to the passage of gas or air in the urine. It may occur in conditions such as an enterovesical fistula.

Pneumothorax

A pneumothorax is the presence of air within the pleural space, which may cause partial or complete collapse of the affected lung.

Pus

Pus is a thick fluid produced during inflammation, particularly bacterial infection, and consists of inflammatory cells, microorganisms, and tissue debris. The correct adjective is purulent.

Rubor

Rubor is one of the classic signs of inflammation and refers to redness of the affected area.

Sinus

A sinus is an abnormal, blind-ending epithelialized tract that connects a deeper focus of disease to an epithelial surface.

Stenosis

Stenosis means abnormal narrowing of a lumen, passage, or opening.

Suppuration

Suppuration refers to the formation or discharge of pus.

Transection

Transection means transverse or complete division across a structure.

Volar

Volar refers to the surface of the palm of the hand or, in some anatomical contexts, the corresponding flexor surface.