Coeliotomy

/ˌsiːliˈɒtəmi/ noun

Definition

A surgical incision or opening made in the abdominal wall.

Etymology

From Greek koilios (belly) + tome (cut, incision). A surgical term using the -tomy suffix, the same construction used in 'appendectomy' and 'hysterectomy' for surgical procedures.

Kelly Says

Every time you hear '-tomy' in a medical word, you're hearing the Greek word for 'cut'—coeliotomy is cutting open the belly, just like a mastectomy is cutting off breast tissue.

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