[Medical Terminology References]

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

-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)