Medical Terminology and Surgical Procedures: Understanding the Suffix -ectomy
Learning medical terms is a systematic process where word roots are combined with specific suffixes. -ectomy is a medical suffix term for “surgical removal”. To understand how these terms are constructed, it is important to analyze the components of each word root and its meaning.
Focus on the Reproductive System
Hyster/o, uter/o, metr/o or metr/i is a combining form for “uterus”. For example, consider the following hyster/ectomy breakdown: Hyster is a word root that pertains to “uterus”, -ectomy is a suffix that refers to “surgical removal”. Definition: A hysterectomy is an operative procedure which involves the removal of the uterus in its entirety or part of it. Similarly, an oophorectomy involves the surgical removal of the ovary.
Common Surgical Procedures Ending in -ectomy
Below is a detailed list of medical suffixes that describe surgery, diagnosis & procedure:
- Adrenectomy: adren (meaning “related to the adrenal gland”) + – ectomy (meaning “surgical removal”). Definition: Surgical removal of the adrenal gland.
- Appendectomy: append (meaning “related to the appendix”) + – ectomy (meaning “surgical removal”). Definition: Surgical removal of the appendix.
- Cholecystectomy: chole (meaning “related to bile”) + cyst (meaning “sac or bladder”) + – ectomy (meaning “surgical removal”). Definition: Surgical removal of the gallbladder.
- Cordectomy: cord (meaning “related to a cord or rope”) + – ectomy (meaning “surgical removal”). Definition: Surgical removal of a cord or rope-like structure, such as the vocal cord.
- Craniectomy: crani/o (meaning “related to the skull”) + – ectomy (meaning “surgical removal”). Definition: Surgical removal of part of the skull.
- Cystectomy: cyst (meaning “sac or bladder”) + – ectomy (meaning “surgical removal”). Definition: Surgical removal of a cyst.
- Gastrectomy: gastr (meaning “related to the stomach”) + – ectomy (meaning “surgical removal”). Definition: Surgical removal of the stomach.
- Nephrectomy: nephr/o (meaning “related to the kidney”) + – ectomy (meaning “surgical removal”). Definition: Surgical removal of the kidney.
- Lobectomy: Lob is a word root for “lobe”, -ectomy means “surgical removal”. Definition: The procedure of lobectomy involves surgically removing a lobe from an organ like the lung or the brain.
Suffixes Describing Disease and Function
Medical terminology also includes suffixes that describe the status of an organ or a specific disease:
- -megaly (Meaning: enlargement): Examples include Cardiomegaly (enlargement of heart) and hapatomegaly (enlargement of liver).
- -oma (Meaning: tumor, mass): An example is an Adenoma (tumor of gland).
Classification of Word Roots by Body System
Medical terms are often categorized by the specific system they belong to:
- Common Word Roots for Cardiovascular System
- Common Word Roots for Respiratory System
- Common Word Roots for Digestive System
- Common Word Roots for Urinary System
- Common Word Roots for Female Reproductive System
- Common Word Roots for Endocrine System
- Common Word Roots for Nervous System
- Common Word Roots for Skeletal System
- Common Word Roots for Muscular System
- Common Word Roots for Integumentary System
- Common Word Roots for Sensory System