American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI) Practice Exam

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The suffix "-otomy" is associated with which surgical action?

Removing a part of the body
Creating an opening in a body structure
Restructuring tissue
Forming an artificial opening

The correct answer is: Creating an opening in a body structure

The suffix "-otomy" is derived from the Greek word "tomia," which means cutting. It specifically refers to the surgical procedure of making an incision or an opening in a body structure. This terminology is commonly found in various surgical terms, such as "laparotomy" (making an incision into the abdominal cavity) or "tracheotomy" (creating an opening in the trachea). The essence of "-otomy" lies in the act of opening or cutting into tissues for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. In contrast, options involving the removal of body parts typically utilize different suffixes, such as "-ectomy,” which denotes excision or removal. Similarly, terms related to the restructuring of tissue often incorporate "-plasty," indicating surgical repair or reconstruction, while an artificial opening, such as in a colostomy, would utilize the suffix "-stomy." Thus, the accurate association of "-otomy" with creating an opening makes it the correct answer.