-pexy
surgical fixation
From Greek pexis, a fixing in place
Meaning
What does -pexy mean?
-pexy is a suffix meaning surgical fixation. It comes from Greek pexis, a fixing in place.
Often the repair for a -ptosis: a loose or drooping organ is fixed in place, as in rectopexy for a prolapsed rectum.
In real words
Medical words with -pexy
surgery that brings an undescended testicle down and attaches it inside the scrotum; also used to treat testicular torsion
surgery to lift a sagging breast and fix it in a higher position
surgery for rectal prolapse that fixes the rectum back in place, usually stitching it to the back of the pelvis
surgery that moves an ovary and fixes it in a new place, for example out of the path of radiation treatment
Don't mix it up
Parts easily confused with -pexy
Sources
Checked against
Written for biofideX in plain words, after checking these references:
- Suffixes – Medical Terminology: An Interactive Approach
- -PEXY Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
- -pexy - Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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Surgery
-pexy is one of 9 parts in this lesson. Learn them together, then take real words apart.
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