What it means
The ending of the name of an operation that cuts something out of the body. An appendectomy removes the appendixuh-PEN-diksA small, finger-shaped pouch attached to the first part of the large intestine, in the lower right abdomen.Full entry , a cholecystectomykoh-luh-sis-TEK-tuh-meeSurgery to remove the gallbladder.chol/e bilecyst/o sac, bladder-ectomy surgical removalFull entry the gallbladder, a mastectomyma-STEK-tuh-meeSurgery to remove all or part of a breast.mast/o breast-ectomy surgical removalFull entry a breast and a hysterectomy the uterus. Compare -otomyOT-uh-meeA word ending that means cutting into, or a surgical incision.Full entry (cutting into) and -ostomyOS-tuh-meeA word ending that means a surgically made opening, usually to the outside of the body.Full entry (making an opening to the outside).
Remember it
-ectomy takes it out; -otomy cuts into it; -ostomy makes a new opening.
Easy to confuse with
Related terms
-otomy
A word ending that means cutting into, or a surgical incision.
-ostomy
A word ending that means a surgically made opening, usually to the outside of the body.
mastectomy
Surgery to remove all or part of a breast.
cholecystectomy
Surgery to remove the gallbladder.