A surgical operation in which the appendix is removed from the abdomen.
From Latin appendix + Greek -ectomy (cutting out, surgical removal). This surgical term was coined when the appendectomy became a standard procedure in the late 19th century, combining Latin anatomy with Greek surgical terminology.
Interestingly, Americans say 'appendectomy' while the rest of the medical world uses 'appendicectomy'—both are correct! It's like how linguistically, both appendix and appendice were valid, but usage standardized one form. Medical language is still evolving.
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