Suffixes: Surgery-incisions
These suffixes describe types of incisions made during surgery.
| Suffix | Meaning | Example |
| -ectomy | removal | mastectomy breast |
| -centesis | tap, puncture | thoracentesis chest |
| -stomy | mouth, forming an opening | colostomy colon |
| -tomy | incision, to cut into |
tracheotomy trachea |
The following suffixes also describe surgery in terms of repairing, rebuilding, reconstructing, or binding
| Suffix | Meaning | Example |
| -desis | binding , stabilization |
pleurodesis pleural membrane (lining of the lung) |
| -rrhapy | suture | arteriorrhaphy artery |
| -pexy | fixation, suspension |
gastropexy stomach |
| -plasty | formation, plastic repair |
rhinoplasty nose |
| -clasis | to break down,
refracture |
osteoclasis bone |
| -lysis | loosen, free form adhesions, destruction |
enterolysis small intestine |
| -tripsy | to crush | cholelithotripsy gallstone |
Adapted from :
Cohen, B. J. (1998). Medical terminology; An illustrated guide. Philadelphia:
Lippincott-Raven Publishers.
Gyls, B.A. & Wedding, M.E. (1983). Medical Terminology: A Systems Approach.
Philadelphia: F.A. Davis.