ectomy
Cutting something out
A suffix meaning surgical removal, from Greek for "cutting out." Appendectomy removes the appendix, tonsillectomy the tonsils, mastectomy a breast.
The pattern is productive: any body part can theoretically take -ectomy.
Humorously extended to non-medical contexts: a walletectomy at the car dealership.
Invasive medical procedure
- incisionControlled cut into tissue
- excisionCutting out of tissue
- resectionSurgical tissue removal
- anesthesiaInduced loss of feeling
surgeon · scalpel · sterile · suture · dissection · ablation · laparotomy · preoperative
Excision of neck gland
- orchiectomySurgical testicle extraction
- pneumonectomyComplete lung extraction surgery
- cystectomySurgical organ excision
- laryngectomyExcision of vocal apparatus
Surgical limb removal
- extirpationComplete destruction or removal
- enucleationComplete surgical excision
- extractionAct of removing
- cuttingDividing via sharp edge
tissue · organ · partial · total · radical · complete · selective · prophylactic
Post-illness healing phase
- healingRestoration of health
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- recuperationGradual return to health
- postoperativeAfter an operation
discharge · wound care · scarring · complications · follow-up · rest · mobility · pain management
surgery
Invasive medical procedure
anesthesia · surgeon · scalpel · sterile · suture · dissection · ablation · laparotomy · preoperative · postoperative
thyroidectomy
Excision of neck gland
- orchiectomySurgical testicle extraction
- pneumonectomyComplete lung extraction surgery
- cystectomySurgical organ excision
laryngectomy · craniectomy · laminectomy · hemorrhoidectomy · vitrectomy
amputation
Surgical limb removal
- extirpationComplete destruction or removal
- enucleationComplete surgical excision
- extractionAct of removing
cutting · tissue · organ · partial · total · radical · complete · selective · prophylactic
convalescence
Post-illness healing phase
- healingRestoration of health
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- recuperationGradual return to health
postoperative · discharge · wound care · scarring · complications · follow-up · rest · mobility · pain management · physical therapy
ectomyimplantation
Embedding into tissue
insertion · grafting · transplantation · implant · addition
ectomygenesis
Point of creation
regeneration · growth · restoration · reconstruction · repair
vasectomy, mastectomy, colectomy, gastrectomy, hysterectomy, lumpectomy, splenectomy, appendectomy, nephrectomy