-otomy
cutting into, incision
From Greek -tomia, cutting (temnein, to cut), with the linking vowel o
Meaning
What does -otomy mean?
-otomy is a suffix meaning cutting into, incision. It comes from Greek -tomia, cutting (temnein, to cut), with the linking vowel o.
Inside words it is spelled tomy.
Often written -tomy, because the o is the root's combining vowel: lapar/o + -tomy gives laparotomy.
In real words
Medical words with -otomy
a surgical cut into the trachea, usually made when the upper airway is blocked
surgery that removes a piece of skull (bone flap) to reach the brain and then puts it back
drawing blood from a vein, for tests, donation or the treatment of a few conditions
a surgical cut through the wall of the abdomen
surgical cutting of a tendon
a surgical cut into the uterus, as made to deliver a baby by cesarean section; also called hysterotomy
an operation that cuts into a hernia to correct it
a surgical cut into an ovary
Don't mix it up
Parts easily confused with -otomy
Sources
Checked against
Written for biofideX in plain words, after checking these references:
- Suffixes – Medical Terminology: An Interactive Approach
- -TOMY Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
- -tomy - Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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Surgery
-otomy is one of 9 parts in this lesson. Learn them together, then take real words apart.
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