Medical Terminology · Respiratory System · Hard
Thoracotomy
Meaning: A surgical incision into the chest wall to access the organs of the chest.
In practice: He needed a thoracotomy to remove part of the lung.
Word parts
- -otomy means cutting into
Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.
Quick check
Two questions on related medical terminology words.
Which word means: Examination of the inside of the large bowel using a flexible camera inserted through the anus.
Answer: Colonoscopy
Which word means: A prefix meaning lung.
Answer: Pulmo
Words like thoracotomy come up in the daily game
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