American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI) Practice Exam

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What is the purpose of a procedure suffix "-ectomy"?

To create an artificial opening
To enter a body cavity
To remove something
To restructure a portion of anatomy

The correct answer is: To remove something

The suffix "-ectomy" is derived from the Greek word "ektome," meaning "a cutting out." Its primary purpose in medical terminology is to denote the surgical removal of a specific organ or tissue from the body. For instance, in the case of an appendectomy, it refers to the surgical removal of the appendix. This suffix emphasizes the action of excising or extracting a part of the body, which is critical for various medical and surgical procedures aimed at treating diseases or conditions. In contrast, the other options describe different surgical actions that do not align with the definition of "-ectomy." The creation of an artificial opening is associated with the suffix "-ostomy," entering a body cavity aligns with "-otomy," and restructuring a portion of anatomy is linked with surgical terms ending in "-plasty." Each of these terms denotes distinct actions, highlighting the specific role that "-ectomy" plays in the lexicon of surgical procedures.