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Surgery - Terminology in surgery
How to describe an operation
The terminology used to describe all operations is a composite of basic
Latin or Greek terms.
First, describe the organ/ area to be operated on
•
lapar- , abdomen (laparus = flank).
nephro- , kidney.
pyelo- , renal pelvis.
cysto- , bladder.
chole- , bile/ biliary system.
ileo- , small bowel (distal).
col(on)- , large bowel.
hystero- , uterus.
thoraco- , chest.
rhino- , nose.
masto/ mammo- , breast.
Second, describe any other parts involved
docho- , duct.
angio- , vessel (blood- or bile- carrying).
litho- , stone.
Third, describe what is to be done
•
otomy, to cut open.
ectomy, to remove (cut out).
plasty, to change shape or size.
pexy, to change position
raphy, to sew together.
oscopy, to look into.
ostomy, to create an opening in (stoma = mouth).
paxy, to crush.
graphy/ gram, image (of).
Lastly, add any terms to qualify how or where the procedure is done
percutaneous, via the skin.
trans- , across.
antegrade, forward.
retrograde, backward.
Examples of terms
Choledochoduodenostomy. An opening between the bile duct and the
duodenum.
Rhinoplasty. Nose reshaping.
Pyelolithopaxy. Destruction of pelvicalyceal stones
Bilateral mastopexy. Breast lifts.
Percutaneous arteriogram. Arterial tree imaging by direct puncture
injection.
Loop ileostomy. External opening in the small bowel with two sides.
Flexible cystourethroscopy. Internal bladder and urethral inspection
How to describe an operation
The terminology used to describe all operations is a composite of basic
Latin or Greek terms.
First, describe the organ/ area to be operated on
•
lapar- , abdomen (laparus = flank).
nephro- , kidney.
pyelo- , renal pelvis.
cysto- , bladder.
chole- , bile/ biliary system.
ileo- , small bowel (distal).
col(on)- , large bowel.
hystero- , uterus.
thoraco- , chest.
rhino- , nose.
masto/ mammo- , breast.
Second, describe any other parts involved
docho- , duct.
angio- , vessel (blood- or bile- carrying).
litho- , stone.
Third, describe what is to be done
•
otomy, to cut open.
ectomy, to remove (cut out).
plasty, to change shape or size.
pexy, to change position
raphy, to sew together.
oscopy, to look into.
ostomy, to create an opening in (stoma = mouth).
paxy, to crush.
graphy/ gram, image (of).
Lastly, add any terms to qualify how or where the procedure is done
percutaneous, via the skin.
trans- , across.
antegrade, forward.
retrograde, backward.
Examples of terms
Choledochoduodenostomy. An opening between the bile duct and the
duodenum.
Rhinoplasty. Nose reshaping.
Pyelolithopaxy. Destruction of pelvicalyceal stones
Bilateral mastopexy. Breast lifts.
Percutaneous arteriogram. Arterial tree imaging by direct puncture
injection.
Loop ileostomy. External opening in the small bowel with two sides.
Flexible cystourethroscopy. Internal bladder and urethral inspection
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