Medical Assistant Exam: General Medical Assisting Knowledge - Names for Common Surgical Procedures

The following list includes terms associated with the most common medical surgical procedures. The term is taken apart, showing the components, to help you see the meaning of the term. You will find some word components that are not on the previous lists of roots, prefixes, and suffixes, so you can add them to the growing list of word parts with which you are familiar.

Skeletal System
- arthrodesis: arthr/o means 'joint' and desis means 'surgical fixation'
- arthrolysis: arthr/o means 'joint' and lysis means 'loosening or setting free'
- bursectomy: burs means 'bursa' and ectomy means 'surgical removal'
- chondroplasty: chondr/o means 'cartilage' and plasty means 'surgical repair'
- synovectomy: synov means 'synovial membrane' and ectomy means 'surgical removal'
- laminectomy: lamin means 'lamina' and ectomy means 'surgical removal'
- craniectomy: crani means 'skull' and ectomy means 'surgical incision'
- osteorrhaphy: oste/o means 'bone' and rrhaphy means 'surgical suturing'

Muscular System
- myectomy: my means 'muscle' and ectomy means 'surgical removal'
- myoplasty: my means 'muscle' and plasty means 'surgical repair'
- myorraphy: my means 'muscle' and rraphy means 'surgical suturing'
- myotomy: my means 'muscle' and otomy means 'surgical incision'

Cardiovascular System
- atherectomy: ather means 'plaque' and ectomy means 'surgical removal'
- carotid endarterectomy: the surgical removal of the lining of a portion of a clogged carotid artery, which leads to the brain
- coronary artery bypass graft: also known as bypass surgery, in which a vein from the leg or chest is implanted in the heart to replace a blocked coronary artery to improve the flow of blood to the heart
- aneurysmorrhaphy: aneurysm stands for itself and rrhaphy means 'surgical suturing'
- valvoplasty: valv/o means 'valve' and plasty means 'surgical repair'

Lymphatic and Immune System
- lumpectomy: the surgical removal of only the cancerous tissue, assuming the surrounding tissue is normal
- mastectomy: mast means 'breast' and ectomy means 'surgical removal'

Respiratory System
- lobectomy: lob means 'lobe' and ectomy means 'surgical removal' (can relate to other body systems)
- pleurectomy: pleur means 'pleura,' a membrane in the lungs, and ectomy means 'surgical removal'
- pneumonectomy: pneumon means 'lung' and ectomy means 'surgical removal'
- thoracentesis: thor/a means 'chest' and centesis means 'surgical puncture to remove fluid'

Digestive System
- colectomy: col means 'colon' and ectomy means 'surgical removal'
- diverticulectomy: diverticul means 'diverticulum,' an abnormal pouch, usually in the intestines, and ectomy means 'surgical removal'
- gastroduodenostomy: gastr/o means 'stomach,' duoden means 'first part of the small intestine,' and ostomy means 'surgically creating an opening'
- proctopexy: proct/o means 'rectum' and pexy means 'surgical fixation'

Urinary System
- nephrolithotomy: nephr/o means 'kidney,' lith means 'stone,' and otomy means 'surgical incision'
- nephropexy: nephr/o means 'kidney' and pexy means 'surgical fixation'
- pyeloplasty: pyel/o means renal 'pelvis' and plasty means 'surgical repair'
- cystorrhaphy: cyst/o means 'bladder' and rrhaphy means 'surgical suturing'
- urethrostomy: urethra/o means 'ureter' and ostomy means 'creating an opening'
- transurethral prostatectomy: the removal of an overgrowth of tissue from the prostate gland through a resectoscope; referred to as TURP

Nervous System
- lobectomy: the surgical removal of a portion of the brain to treat brain cancer or seizure disorders
- thalamotomy: thalam means 'thalamus,' part of the brain, and otomy means 'surgical incision'
- neuroplasty: neur/o means 'nerve' and plasty means 'surgical repair'
- neurorrhaphy: neur/o means 'nerve' and rrhaphy means 'surgical suturing'
- neurotomy: neur/o means 'nerve' and otomy means 'surgical incision'

Integumentary System
- lipectomy: lip means 'fat' and ectomy means 'surgical removal'
- liposuction: lip means 'fat,' so a liposuction is the process of removing fat by a suctioning method
- rhytidectomy: rhytid means 'wrinkle' and ectomy means 'surgical removal'

Eyes
- laser iridotomy: irid means 'iris' and otomy means 'surgical incision'
- orbitotomy: orbit means 'bony socket' (which houses the eye), and otomy means 'surgical incision'
- tarsorrhaphy: tars/o means 'eyelid' and rrhaphy means 'surgical suturing'
- conjunctivoplasty: conjunctiv means 'conjunctiva,' the mucous membrane lining the eyelid, and plasty means 'surgical repair'
- iridectomy: irid means 'iris' and ectomy means 'surgical removal'
- vitrectomy: vitr means 'vitreous fluid' and ectomy means 'removal'
- lensectomy: lens means 'lens' and ectomy means 'surgical removal'
- blepharoplasty: blephar/o means 'eyelid' and plasty means 'surgical repair'
- retinopexy: retin/o means 'retina' and pexy means 'surgical fixation'
- LASIK: an abbreviation for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis: kerat/o means 'cornea' and mileuis means 'carving'

Ears
- otoplasty: ot/o means ear, and plasty means surgical repair
- mastoidectomy: mastoid means mastoid process and ectomy means surgical removal
- myringotomy: myring/o means eardrum and otomy means surgical incision
- tympanostomy: tympan/o means eardrum, and ostomy means creating an opening
- tympanoplasty: tympan/o means eardrum, and plasty means surgical repair

Endocrine System
- laparoscopic adrenalectomy: adrenal means 'adrenal gland,' and ectomy means 'surgical removal;' laparoscopic indicates a type of minimally invasive surgical procedure
- pancreatectomy: pancreat means 'pancreas,' and ectomy means 'surgical removal'
- thymectomy: thym means 'thymus' and ectomy means 'surgical removal'
- pinealectomy: pineal means 'pineal gland' and ectomy means 'surgical removal'

Reproductive System
- ovariectomy: ovari means 'ovary' and ectomy means 'surgical removal'
- salpingectomy: salping means 'fallopian tube' and ectomy means 'surgical removal'
- salpingoophorectomy: salping means 'one or both fallopian tubes,' oophor means 'ovary,' and ectomy means 'surgical removal'
- orchiectomy: orchi/o means 'testicle' and ectomy means 'surgical removal'
- orchiopexy: orchid/o means 'testicle' and pexy means 'surgical fixation'
- colpopexy: colp/o means 'vagina' and pexy means 'surgical fixation in place'
- colporrhaphy: colp/o means 'vagina' and rrhaphy means 'surgical suturing'
- myomectomy: myom means 'muscle tumor' and ectomy means 'surgical removal'
- hysterectomy: hyster means 'uterus' and ectomy means 'surgical removal'
- mastopexy: mast/o means 'breast' and pexy means 'surgical fixation'
- vasectomy: vas means 'vas deferens,' part of the male reproductive system, and ectomy means 'surgical removal'