-ectomy, -ectome, -ectomize

1. Excision of the wall of the lacrimal (tear) sac.
2. Surgical removal of the lacrimal sac.

A surgical sterilization procedure performed in males where a segment of the vas deferens is removed: "The vas deferens is a coiled duct that conveys sperm from the epididymis to the ejaculatory duct and the urethra; so, the deferentectomy is an operation on the tube that connects the testes with the urethra."

Surgical destruction of the dentate (tooth) nucleus of the cerebellum (part of the vertebrate hindbrain).

A term for the surgical, or operative, removal of a dermoid cyst.

A dermoid cyst is a nonmalignant cystic tumor containing elements derived from the ectoderm; such as, hair, teeth, or skin; also known as a dermoid tumor.

Partial or complete removal of the shaft of a long bone.

Excision, in part or whole, of an intervertebral disk (fibro-cartilaginous disc that lies between the vertebral bodies in the spine).

Most commonly a discectomy is done when a disc is herniated (slipped disc) and is causing symptoms of pain and nerve irritation or injury.

Sometimes, a discectomy is done to stop the motion across a portion of the spine and create a solid structure (spinal fusion).

The excision of an intervertebral disk (between two vetebrae).

Excision of a diverticulum.

A diverticulum refers to a small sac-like structure that sometimes forms in the walls of the intestines where diverticula can trap particles of food (especially small seeds and undigested grains) and become very inflamed and painful (this condition is called diverticulitis).

As a person ages, pressure within the large intestine (colon) causes pockets of tissue (sacs) that push out from the colon walls. The plural form is diverticula. Diverticula can occur throughout the colon but are most common near the end of the left side of the colon, the sigmoid colon.

In human anatomy, the sigmoid colon is the lower colon (the lower portion of the large bowel).

The word sigmoid came from the Greek letter "sigma" which is shaped like a "C". It also means curved in two directions like the letter "S". A sigmoid curve is an S-shaped curve.

The sigmoid flexure of the colon is the point where it makes the turn from transverse to descending colon.

Sigmoidoscopy is a procedure in which a viewing tube (a sigmoidoscope) is inserted up into the sigmoid colon. The term rectosigmoid refers to both the rectum and the sigmoid colon above it.

Removal of both breasts.

Excision or the surgical removal of the duodenum.

The duodenum is the first or proximal (nearest) portion of the small intestine, extending from the pylorus (opening in a vertebrate from the stomach into the intestine) to the jejunum (the portion of the small intestine that extends from the duodenum to the ileum), so called because it is about twelve finger widths in length.

The ileum is the last portion of the small intestine that communicates with the large intestine.

Excision of the head of the pancreas along with the encircling loop of the duodenum.

An appendectomy using an electric cautery or similar device.

A cautery is an instrument or substance used to seal a wound or to destroy damaged or infected tissue by burning.

The removal of the gallbladder by electrosurgery.

Surgical removal of an obstructing clot or foreign material which has been transported from a distant vessel by the bloodstream.

Removal of a clot at its original site is called thrombectomy.

The surgical removal or excision of the embryo in an extrauterine pregnancy.

A extrauterine pregnancy refers to condition outside the uterus or the womb which is the opposite of intrauterine or inside the uterus.

"Normal pregnancies" are intrauterine while extrauterine pregnancies can occur in the uterine tube or abdominal cavity and are described as abnormal.