-ectomy, -ectome, -ectomize
(Greek: a suffix; cut, excise, surgical removal of)
An endarterectomy is basically a "Rotorooter" procedure. It removes diseased material from the inside of an artery, and also removes any occluding atheromatous deposits, with the purpose of leaving a smooth lining within the vessel, so the blood can flow normally.
This can be accomplished by utilizing caustic chemicals, or by curettage (surgery to remove tissue or growths from a bodily cavity by scraping with a curette or a surgical instrument shaped like a scoop) in the postabortal (after an abortion) or puerperal period (occurring at or after the time of childbirth).
2. The excision of a part of the intestine.
The epicardium is the inner layer of the pericardium, a conical sac of fibrous tissue that surrounds the heart and the roots of the great blood vessels.
The pericardium has outer and inner coats. The outer coat is tough and thickened, loosely cloaks the heart, and is attached to the central part of the diaphragm and the back of the sternum (breastbone).
The inner coat is double with one layer closely adherent to the heart while the other one lines the inner surface of the outer coat with the intervening space being filled with fluid.
This small amount of fluid, called the pericardial fluid, acts as a lubricant to allow normal heart movement within the chest.
The epididymis is a coiled segment of the spermatic ducts that serves to store, mature and transport spermatozoa between the testis and the vas deferens.
The vas deferens is the tube connecting the testes with the urethra which is a coiled duct that conveys sperm from the epididymis to the ejaculatory duct and the urethra.
The adrenal glands are part of the endocrine system and are located just above the kidneys.
The omentum is a sheet of fat that is covered by the peritoneum.
The greater omentum is attached to the bottom edge of the stomach, and hangs down in front of the intestines. Its other edge is attached to the transverse colon.
The lesser omentum is attached to the top edge of the stomach, and extends to the under surface of the liver.
Related cutting-word units: cast-; castrat-; -cise, -cide; mutil-; put-; sec-, seg-; temno-; -tomy; trunc-.
-Ectomy Word-Sources of Definitions