-ectomy, -ectome, -ectomize
(Greek: a suffix; cut, excise, surgical removal of)
2. Excision of the midportion of the thyroid.
Kolpo- is a combining form from the Greek kolpos meaning "a fold, a cleft", or "a hollow" and usually refers to the vagina. Normally, this is now spelled as colpo-.
2. Excision (cutting out) of the labyrinth; a destructive operation to destroy labyrinthine function.
3. Excision of the labyrinth of the ear, done because of implacable vestibular dysfunction when severe hearing loss is already present.
The lamina, which is partially (or completely) removed unroofs the canal and can lead to a marked enlargement of the space available for nerves and the spinal cord. This procedure is most commonly performed in the lumbar spine (lower back).
Using a special instrument that takes little bites off bone (kerrison rongeur), the lamina of the selected level is gradually trimmed until sufficient bone is removed to free the nerves and open the canal as desired.
When this has been achieved the muscles are closed against each other by placing sutures (special threads which are knotted together). The skin is then closed and a dressing is placed.
2. Excision of strips or gores from the abdominal wall and suture of the edges of the wounds, in cases of abnormal laxity of the abdominal muscles.
Related cutting-word units: cast-; castrat-; -cise, -cide; mutil-; put-; sec-, seg-; temno-; -tomy; trunc-.
-Ectomy Word-Sources of Definitions