- A -
abdominoplasty - Excision of excess skin, fat, and subcutaneous tissue in the abdominal area, with repair.
ablation - Removal or destruction of tissue by cutting, electrical energy, chemical substances, or excessive heat application.
abrasion - Removal of layers of the skin occurring as a superficial injury, or a procedure for removal of problematic skin or skin lesions.
absorbable sutures - Strands used for suture or repair of tissue prepared from collagen or a synthetic polymer and capable of being absorbed by tissue over time.
acetabuloplasty - Surgical repair or reconstruction of the large, cup-shaped socket in the hipbone (acetabulum) that articulates with the head of the femur.
achalasia - Failure of the smooth muscles within the gastrointestinal tract to relax at points of junction; most commonly referring to the esophagogastric sphincter's failure to relax when swallowing.
acromionectomy - Surgical treatment for acromioclavicular arthritis, degeneration, or injury where the distal portion of the acromion process is removed.
acromioplasty - Repair of the part of the shoulder blade that connects to the deltoid muscles and clavicle.
acute myocardial infarction - Sudden, severe death of heart muscle due to decreased coronary blood flow. Classification is based on the location of the affected tissue, when known.
adduction - Pulling toward a central reference line, such as toward the midline of the body.
adenoidectomy - Surgical procedure in which the adenoids (the lymphoid tissue in the back wall and roof of the nasopharynx) are removed, often in conjunction with other procedures such as tonsillectomy or placement of tympanostomy tubes, most often performed in pediatric patients.
adipectomy - Surgical excision of fatty tissue. Adipectomy can be performed with or without suction assistance. Synonym(s): lipectomy.
adjacent tissue transfer - Rotation or advancement of skin from an adjacent area to repair or fill in a defect while maintaining attachment to original blood supply.
advance - Move away from the starting point.
allograft - Graft from one individual to another of the same species.
amputation - Removal of all or part of a limb or digit through the shaft or body of a bone.
analysis - Study of body fluid, tissue, section, or parts.
anastomosis - Surgically created connection between ducts, blood vessels, or bowel segments to allow flow from one to the other.
aneurysm - Circumscribed dilation or outpouching of an artery wall, often containing blood clots and connecting directly with the lumen of the artery.
angioplasty - Reconstruction or repair of a diseased or damaged blood vessel.
anterior - Situated in the front area or toward the belly surface of the body.
antibody - Immunoglobulin or protective protein encoded within its building block sequence to interact only with its specific antigen.
antigen - Substance inducing sensitivity or triggering an immune response and the production of antibodies.
antrum - Chamber or cavity, typically with a small opening.
appliance - Device providing function to a body part.
approach - Method or anatomical location used to gain access to a body organ or specific area for procedures. The approach is not coded separately although it may be a specified component of the procedure, such as laparoscopic versus incisional, or spinal procedures in which the amount of dissection required to expose the spine significantly alters with the site of approach.
arteriovenous fistula - Connecting passage between an artery and a vein.
arthrocentesis - Puncture and aspiration of fluid from a joint for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes or injection of anesthetics or corticosteroids.
arthrodesis - Surgical fixation or fusion of a joint to reduce pain and improve stability, performed openly or arthroscopically.
arthroplasty - Surgical reconstruction of a joint to improve function and reduce pain; may involve partial or total joint replacement.
arthroscopy - Use of an endoscope to examine the interior of a joint (diagnostic) or to perform surgery on joint structures (therapeutic).
arthrotomy - Surgical incision into a joint that may include exploration, drainage, or removal of a foreign body.
articulate - Comprised of separate segments joined together, allowing for movement of each part on the other.
aspiration - Drawing fluid out by suction.
assay - Test of purity or the amount of any particular constituent of a mixture.
astragalectomy - Surgical removal of the astragalus (talus), the bone that forms the ankle joint by articulating with the tibia and fibula.
augmentation - Add to or increase the substance of a body site, usually performed as plastic reconstructive measures. Augmentation may involve the use of an implant or prosthesis, especially within soft tissue or grafting procedures, such as bone tissue.
autograft - Any tissue harvested from one anatomical site of a person and grafted to another anatomical site of the same person. Most commonly, blood vessels, skin, tendons, fascia, and bone are used as autografts.
avulse - Tear away from, whether in an accidental injury or as a surgical procedure.
- B -
Baker tube - Tube placed into the jejunum or small bowel for decompression or extensive adhesions.
Baker's cannula - Flexible cannula used on the trachea.
benign - Mild or nonmalignant in nature.
biofeedback - Process by which a person learns to influence autonomic or involuntary nervous system responses and physiologic responses normally regulated voluntarily, but whose control has been affected by trauma or disease.
biometry - Statistical analysis of biological data.
biopsy - Tissue or fluid removed for diagnostic purposes through analysis of the cells in the biopsy material.
blood type - Classification of blood by group.
bougie - Probe used to dilate or calibrate a body part.
boutonniere deformity - Finger deformity with hyperextension of the distal joint and flexion of the interphalangeal joint.
brachytherapy - Form of radiation therapy in which radioactive pellets or seeds are implanted directly into the tissue being treated to deliver their dose of radiation in a more directed fashion. Brachytherapy provides radiation to the prescribed body area while minimizing exposure to normal tissue.
bridge - Connection between two parts of an organ or body part.
brush - Tool used to gather cell samples or clean a body part.
burr - Specialized surgical drill used to shape or make holes in bones or gain access into the cranium.
bursa - Cavity or sac containing fluid that occurs between articulating surfaces and serves to reduce friction from moving parts.
bypass - Auxiliary or diverted route to maintain continuous flow.
- C -
C-arm - Portable x-ray fluoroscopy machine often used in surgery.
calculus - Abnormal, stone-like concretion of calcium, cholesterol, mineral salts, or other substances that forms in any part of the body.
cannula - Tube inserted into a blood vessel, duct, or body cavity to facilitate passage.
capsulorrhaphy - Suturing or repair of a joint capsule.
capsulotomy - Incision of a joint capsule.
carcinoma in situ - Malignancy that arises from the cells of the vessel, gland, or organ of origin that remains confined to that site or has not invaded neighboring tissue.
cast - Rigid encasement or dressing molded to the body from a substance that hardens upon drying to hold a body part immobile during the healing period; a model or reproduction made from an impression or mold.
catheter - Flexible tube inserted into an area of the body for introducing or withdrawing fluid.
cauterize - Heat or chemicals used to burn or cut.
celiotomy - Incision into the abdominal cavity.
cement - Any substance that solidly bonds two objects or surfaces together.
centesis - Puncture.
cephalad - Toward the head.
cerclage - Looping or encircling an organ or tissue with wire or ligature for positional support.
chemodenervation - Chemical destruction of nerves. A substance, for example, Botox, is used to temporarily inhibit the transfer of chemicals at the presynaptic membrane, blocking the neuromuscular junctions.
chemosurgery - Application of chemical agents to destroy tissue, originally referring to the in situ chemical fixation of premalignant or malignant lesions to facilitate surgical excision.
chemotherapy - Treatment of disease, especially cancerous conditions, using chemical agents.
chisel - Instrument for cutting or planing bone.
chondral - Relating to cartilage.
chromotubation - Injection of a medication or saline solution into the uterine cavity and fallopian tubes to verify patency of the tubes.
cicatricial - Of or relating to scarring.
cicatricial entropion - Scarring that results in inversion of the eyelid, causing the lid margin to rest against and irritate the eyeball.
cicatricial lagophthalmos - Scarring that results in an eye that cannot be completely closed.
cicatricial pemphigoid - Autoimmune disease causing blisters on the skin often accompanied by itching and/or burning and resulting in scarring.
ciliary - Pertaining to the eyelid, eyelashes, or specific structures of the eyeball.
ciliary block - Increase in intraocular pressure that is accompanied by a shallow anterior chamber and forward displacement of the iris and lens.
ciliary body - Structure of the eye that produces the aqueous humor within the anterior chamber that nourishes the lens and cornea. The ciliary body is part of the uvea and connects anteriorly to the root of the iris and posteriorly to the choroid at the ora serrata retinae. It is divided into the pars plana and the pars plicata.
circumcise - Circular cutting around the genitals to remove the prepuce or foreskin.
clamp - Tool used to grip, compress, join, or fasten body parts.
closed treatment - Realignment of a fracture or dislocation without surgically opening the skin to reach the site. Treatment methods employed include with or without manipulation and with or without traction.
closure - Repairing an incision or wound by suture or other means.
clysis - Fluids injected into the body.
coctolabile - Capable of being destroyed or altered when boiled.
Colles' fracture - Fracture of the radius at the wrist in which the distal fragment is pushed posteriorly. The dorsal angulation of the fragment results in the wrist cocking up.
comminuted - Fracture type in which the bone is splintered or crushed.
commissure - Juncture where two corresponding parts come together, especially referring to the union site of adjacent heart valve cusps.
comorbid condition - Condition present that is not the primary reason for treating the patient, but one that affects the patient's care.
complex - Composite or collection of related things, such as symptoms, anatomical parts, or surgical procedures.
complex repair - Surgical closure of a wound requiring more than layered closure of the deeper subcutaneous tissue and fascia (i.e., debridement, scar excision, placement of stents or retention sutures, and sometimes site preparation or undermining that creates the defect requiring complex closure).
condyle - Rounded end of a bone that forms an articulation.
conization - Excision of a cone-shaped piece of tissue.
constriction - Narrowed or squeezed portion of a tubular or luminal structure, such as a duct, vessel, or tube (e.g., esophagus). The narrowing can be a defect that is occurring naturally, or one that is surgically induced for therapeutic reasons.
contour - Act of shaping along desired lines.
contralateral - Located on, or affecting, the opposite side of the body, usually as it relates to a bilateral body part.
coronal - Relating to the top of a tooth or the crown of the head.
corpectomy - Removal of the body of a bone, such as a vertebra.
correct - Body part modification.
craterization - Excision of a portion of bone creating a crater-like depression to facilitate drainage from infected areas of bone.
cross match - Test used to match the compatibility of a donor's blood or organ to the recipient.
crus - 1) Any body part resembling a leg. 2) Lower part of the leg.
cryotherapy - Any surgical procedure that uses intense cold for treatment.
culture - Growth of microorganisms in a medium conducive to their development.
curettage - Removal of tissue by scraping.
cutaneous - Relating to the skin.
cystotomy - Surgical incision into the gallbladder or urinary bladder.
- D -
debridement - Removal of dead or contaminated tissue and foreign matter from a wound.
decompress - To relieve pressure.
decubitus - Patient lying on the side.
dehiscence - Complication of healing in which the surgical wound ruptures or bursts open, superficially or through multiple layers.
deligation - Closure by tying up; sutures, ligatures.
depressor - Tool used to push body tissue out of the way.
dermabrasion - Cosmetic procedure that smooths out flaws and disfigured skin and promotes the growth of a new layer of skin cells by removing the outer layer of skin by mechanical or chemical means such as fine sandpaper, wire brushes, and caustic substances.
destruction - Ablation or eradication of a structure or tissue.
detection - Search for presence of a tissue or material.
diagnostic - Examination or procedure to which the patient is subjected, or which is performed on materials derived from a hospital outpatient, to obtain information to aid in the assessment of a medical condition or the identification of a disease. Among these examinations and tests are diagnostic laboratory services such as hematology and chemistry, diagnostic x-rays, isotope studies, EKGs, pulmonary function studies, thyroid function tests, psychological tests, and other tests given to determine the nature and severity of an ailment or injury.
dialysis - Artificial filtering of the blood to remove contaminating waste elements and restore normal balance.
diaphysis - Central shaft of a long bone.
diathermy - Applying heat to body tissues by various methods for therapeutic treatment or surgical purposes to coagulate and seal tissue.
dilation - Artificial increase in the diameter of an opening or lumen made by medication or by instrumentation.
dilution - Concentration reduction of a mixture or solution by adding more fluid.
disarticulation - Removal of a limb through a joint.
discectomy - Surgical excision of an intervertebral disk.
dislocation - Displacement of a bone in relation to its neighboring tissue, especially a joint.
dissection - Separating by cutting tissue or body structures apart.
distal - Located farther away from a specified reference point or the trunk.
distention - Enlarged or expanded due to pressure from inside.
diversion - Rechanneling of body fluid through another conduit.
diverticulum - Pouch or sac in the walls of an organ or canal.
division - Separating into two or more parts.
donor - Person from whom tissues or organs are removed for transplantation.
dorsal - Pertaining to the back or posterior aspect.
dorsum - Back side or back part of the body or individual anatomical structure.
dosimetry - Component in the administration of radiation oncology therapy in which a radiation dose is calculated to a specific site, including implant or beam orientation and exposure, isodose strengths, tissue inhomogeneities, and volume.
drain - Device that creates a channel to allow fluid from a cavity, wound, or infected area to exit the body.
drill - Making a hole in a bone or hard tissue.
dwyer instrumentation technique - Anterior procedure using rods and attachments to straighten the spine as in treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
dynamic - Manifesting motion in response to force.
- E -
echography - Radiographic imaging that uses sound waves reflected off the different densities of anatomic structures to create images.
ectopic - 1) Fertilized ovum that implants and develops outside the uterus. The ovum may implant itself in different sites, such as the fallopian tube, the ovary, the abdomen, or the cervix. 2) Organ or other structure that is aberrant or out of place.
edentulous - Loss of all or some of the natural teeth.
electrocautery - Division or cutting of tissue using high-frequency electrical current to produce heat, which destroys cells.
elevator - Tool for lifting tissues or bone.
elution - Separation of one solid from another, usually by washing.
embolism - Obstruction of a blood vessel resulting from a clot or foreign substance.
endoscopy - Visual inspection of the body using a fiberoptic scope.
enterostomy - Surgically created opening into the intestine through the abdominal wall.
enzyme - Complex proteins produced by cells that provide specific chemical functions within the body.
enzyme immunoassay - Any of several diagnostic immunoassay methods in which an enzyme is bound to an antigen or antibody and acts as a label; it is one of the primary diagnostic tests for many infectious diseases.
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay - Laboratory immunoassay technique used in the diagnosis of certain diseases in which antibodies bound to enzymes reveal and quantify the amount of a substance in a solution, such as serum. It is performed using a solid surface to which the antibodies and other molecules adhere. In the last step, an enzymatic reaction occurs that results in a color change that can be read using a specialized instrument.
epiphysis - Proximal and distal rounded ends of a long bone; communicates with the joint.
episiotomy - Deliberate incision in the perineal tissue to facilitate delivery of the fetus and avoid traumatic tearing. In a midline or median episiotomy, the incision is made from the vagina straight down toward the anus. In a mediolateral episiotomy, the incision slants to one side.
epithelize - Formation of epithelial cells over a surface.
escharotomy - Surgical incision into the scab or crust resulting from a severe burn in order to relieve constriction and allow blood flow to the distal unburned tissue.
esophagoscopy - Internal visual inspection of the esophagus through the use of an endoscope placed down the throat.
evacuation - Removal or purging of waste material.
evisceration - Removal of contents of a cavity.
examination - Comprehensive visual and tactile screening and specific testing leading to diagnosis or, as appropriate, to a referral to another practitioner.
exchange - Substitution of one thing for another.
excise - Remove or cut out.
exenteration - Surgical removal of the entire contents of a body cavity, such as the pelvis or orbit.
exfoliate - Skin falling off in layers.
exploration - Examination for diagnostic purposes.
exposure - In surgery, to display, reveal, or make accessible.
expression - In surgery, the squeezing out of tissue.
exteriorize - In surgery, to expose an organ temporarily for observation.
external fixation - Rods and pins connected in a lattice to secure bone.
extract - Condensed medication.
- F -
fascia - Fibrous sheet or band of tissue that envelops organs, muscles, and groupings of muscles.
fasciotomy - Incision or transection of fascial tissue.
fenestration - Presence of small openings from piercing or perforations.
fibrosis - Formation of fibrous tissue as part of the restorative process.
filiform - Probe with woven-thread end.
fissure - Deep furrow, groove, or cleft in tissue structures.
fistula - Abnormal tube-like passage between two body cavities or organs or from an organ to the outside surface.
fistulization - Creation of a communication between two structures that were not previously connected.
fit - Attack of acute symptoms.
fixate - Hold, secure, or fasten in position.
fixation - Act or condition of being attached, secured, fastened, or held in position.
flap - Mass of flesh and skin partially excised from its location but retaining its blood supply that is moved to another site to repair adjacent or distant defects.
fluorescence immunoassay - Form of immunoassay that uses a fluorescent compound as the detection reagent. This compound absorbs light or energy at a particular wavelength and then emits light or energy at a different wavelength.
fluoroscopy - Radiology technique that allows visual examination of part of the body or a function of an organ using a device that projects an x-ray image on a fluorescent screen.
follow-up - Visits or treatment following a procedure.
forceps - Tool used for grasping or compressing tissue.
fossa - Indentation or shallow depression.
Fowler's position - Position assumed by patient when the head of the bed is raised 18 or 20 inches and the individual's knees are elevated.
fragment - Small piece broken off a larger whole; to divide into pieces.
free graft - Unattached piece of skin and tissue moved to another part of the body and sutured into place to repair a defect.
frozen section - Group of similar cells that have been frozen and thinly sliced according to specifications to preserve the tissue for diagnostic or histochemistry studies.
fulgurate - Destruction by electric current.
furuncle - Inflamed, painful abscess, cyst, or nodule on the skin caused by bacteria, often Staphylococcus, entering along the hair follicle.
fusion - Union of adjacent tissues, especially bone.
- G -
Gardner Wells tongs - Immobilizing device used for cervical spine injuries. Two sharp metal pins are screwed into the superficial layer of the skull and then connected to traction devices for stabilization of the spine.
Gigli saw - Saw made of thin, flexible wire with teeth along the edge used for cutting bones (e.g., craniotomy).
graft - Tissue implant from another part of the body or another person.
Greenfield filter - Permanent umbrella-shaped filter implanted in the vena cava and designed to trap small clots of blood or plaque before they reach the lungs and cause pulmonary embolism. The filter is inserted intraluminally, usually through the femoral or jugular veins.
guillotine - Instrument used for severing tonsils from their attachments.
- H -
halo - Tool for stabilizing the head and spine.
harvest - Removal of cells or tissue from their native site to be used as a graft or transplant to another part of the donor's body or placed into another person.
hematoma - Tumor-like collection of blood in some part of the body caused by a break in a blood vessel wall, usually as a result of trauma.
hemilaminectomy - Excision of a portion of the vertebral lamina.
hemiphalangectomy - Excision of part of the phalanx.
hemoperitoneum - Effusion of blood into the peritoneal cavity, the space between the continuous membrane lining the abdominopelvic walls and encasing the visceral organs.
hemostasis - Interruption of blood flow or the cessation or arrest of bleeding.
hemostat - Tool for clamping vessels and arresting hemorrhaging.
hernia - Protrusion of a body structure through tissue.
hidradenitis - Infection or inflammation of a sweat gland, usually treated by incision and drainage.
Hoffman device - External fixation device.
homograft - Graft from one individual to another of the same species.
hyperthermia - Body temperature rising above 99 degrees Fahrenheit. This elevated temperature can be the result of illness or artificially created as a therapy.
hypertrophic - Enlarged or overgrown from an increase in cell size of the affected tissue.
hypophysectomy - Destruction of the pituitary gland.
hypothermia - Therapeutic lack of heat or decrease in body temperature.
- I -
identification - Recognition of body part or tissue.
imaging - Radiologic means of producing pictures for clinical study of the internal structures and functions of the body, such as x-ray, ultrasound, magnetic resonance, or positron emission tomography.
imbrication - Overlapping of tissues during closure.
immunoassay - Method that uses binding between an antigen and antibody for determination of the presence of certain chemical substances.
immunochemiluminometric assay - Form of immunoassay in which the antigen-antibody complex is measured using light emission produced from a chemical reaction.
immunotherapy - Therapeutic use of serum or gamma globulin.
implant - Material or device inserted or placed within the body for therapeutic, reconstructive, or diagnostic purposes.
impression - Mold of a body part to be used as a pattern in making a replacement part, prosthesis, or stabilizing device for that area of the body.
in situ - Located in the natural position or contained within the origin site, not spread into neighboring tissue.
incise - To cut open or into.
incubation - Culture cultivation under controlled conditions.
inferior - Located toward the feet or lower part of the body.
infusion - Introduction of a therapeutic fluid, other than blood, into the bloodstream.
inguinal - Within the groin region.
inject - Introduction into body tissues.
innervate - Supplying a stimulus or energy to nerve fibers connected to a part.
inseminate - Inject with semen.
instillation - Administering a liquid slowly over time, drop by drop.
instrumentation - Use of a tool for therapeutic reasons.
insufflation - Blowing air or gas into a body cavity.
intermediate repair - 1) Surgical closure of a wound requiring closure of one or more of the deeper subcutaneous tissue and non-muscle fascia layers in addition to the skin. 2) Contaminated wounds with single layer closure that need extensive cleaning or foreign body removal.
internal skeletal fixation - Repair involving wires, pins, screws, and/or plates placed through or within the fractured area to stabilize and immobilize the injury.
interpretation - Professional health care provider's review of data with a written or verbal opinion.
interstitial - Within the small spaces or gaps occurring in tissue or organs.
intracavitary - Within a body cavity.
intubate - Insertion of a tube into a body canal or organ.
inversion - Turning inward, inside out, or upside down.
ipsilateral - Located on, or affecting, the same side of the body, usually as it relates to a bilateral body part.
irrigate - Washing out, lavage.
- K -
keratotomy - Surgical incision of the cornea.
kinetics - Motion or movement.
- L -
laminectomy - Removal or excision of the posterior arch of a vertebra to provide additional space for the nerves and widen the spinal canal.
lance - Incise with a lancet.
lancet - Pointed surgical knife.
laparoscopy - Direct visualization of the peritoneal cavity, outer fallopian tubes, uterus, and ovaries utilizing a laparoscope, a thin, flexible fiberoptic tube.
laparotomy - Incision through the flank or abdomen for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes.
laryngoscopy - Examination of the hypopharynx, larynx, and tongue base with an endoscope.
laser - Concentrated light used to cut or seal tissue.
lateral - On/to the side.
lavage - Washing.
lesion - Area of damaged tissue that has lost continuity or function, due to disease or trauma. Lesions may be located on internal structures such as the brain, nerves, or kidneys, or visible on the skin.
ligation - Tying off a blood vessel or duct with a suture or a soft, thin wire.
light chains - Proteins produced by plasma (immune) cells; also called kappa and lambda light chains.
limited - Bounded.
lingual - Surface of the tooth closest to the tongue or relating to the tongue and its surrounding areas.
lithotomy position - Common position patients may be placed in for some surgical procedures and examinations involving the pelvis and/or lower abdomen. The patient is placed supine (on their back), hips and knees flexed, thighs apart, with feet supported in raised stirrups.
lithotripsy - Destruction of calcified substances in the gallbladder or urinary system by smashing the concretion into small particles to be washed out. This may be done by surgical or noninvasive methods, such as ultrasound.
localization - Limitation to one area.
lysis - Destruction, breakdown, dissolution, or decomposition of cells or substances by a specific catalyzing agent.
- M -
malignant - Any condition tending to progress toward death, specifically an invasive tumor with a loss of cellular differentiation that has the ability to spread or metastasize to other body areas.
manipulate - Treatment by hand.
manometric - Pertaining to pressure, as measured in a meter.
marsupialization - Creation of a pouch in surgical treatment of a cyst in which one wall is resected and the remaining cut edges are sutured to adjacent tissue creating an open pouch of the previously enclosed cyst.
mastectomy - Surgical removal of one or both breasts.
mastotomy - Incision of the breast, often performed for exploration of suspicious tissue or for drainage of an abscess.
meatus - Opening or passage into the body.
medial - Middle or midline.
metastasize - Spread, invade, or extend to a new location.
metatarsectomy - Excision or resection of a metatarsal bone in the foot between the tarsal and phalangeal bones.
microdissection - Dissection of tissue using a microscope.
microrepair - Repair of tissue at a level that requires using a microscope.
middle cranial fossa - Support for the temporal lobes of the brain comprising the greater wings of the sphenoid (anteriorly), the squamous portions of temporal bone (laterally), and the petrous portions of the temporal bones (posteriorly).
modality - 1) Form of imaging (e.g., x-ray, fluoroscopy, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, duplex Doppler, CT, and MRI). 2) Any physical agent applied to produce therapeutic changes to biologic tissue including, but not limited to, thermal, acoustic, light, mechanical, or electric energy.
modification - Changing of tissues.
monitoring - Recording of events; keep track, regulate, or control patient activities and record findings.
morbidity - Diseased condition or state.
mortality - Condition of being mortal (subject to death).
motility - Capability of independent, spontaneous movement.
myocutaneous flap - Skin, subcutaneous tissue, and intact muscle tissue that are transferred to a recipient site while retaining sufficient blood supply from its own vascular bed.
myotomy - Surgical cutting of a muscle to gain access to underlying tissues or for therapeutic reasons.
- N -
necropsy - Autopsy or postmortem examination performed in order to ascertain the cause of death or the changes caused by disease.
necrosis - Death of cells or tissue within a living organ or structure.
nephrotic - Degeneration of renal epithelium.
neurectomy - Excision of all or a portion of a nerve.
neurotomy - Dissection of a nerve.
- O -
obliterate - Get rid or do away with completely.
observation - Perception of events.
obturate - To occlude or close off an opening.
obturator - Prosthesis used to close an acquired or congenital opening in the palate that aids in speech and chewing.
occlusion - Constriction, closure, or blockage of a passage.
oophorectomy - Surgical removal of all or part of one or both ovaries, either as open procedure or laparoscopically. Menstruation and childbearing ability continues when one ovary is removed.
open fracture - Exposed break in a bone, always considered compound due to its high risk of infection from the open wound leading to the fracture. Broken bone ends may protrude through the skin and contaminants or foreign bodies are often embedded in the tissues.
open wound - Opening or break of the skin.
operating microscope - Compound microscope with two or more lens systems or several grouped lenses in one unit that provides magnifying power to the surgeon up to 40X.
operating room (OR) procedure - Defined group of procedures that normally require the use of an operating room.
orchiectomy - Surgical removal of one or both testicles via a scrotal or groin incision, indicated in cases of cancer, traumatic injury, and sex reassignment surgery.
ostectomy - Excision of bone.
osteomyelitis - Inflammation of bone that may remain localized or spread to the marrow, cortex, or periosteum, in response to an infecting organism, usually bacterial and pyogenic.
osteophytes - Bony outgrowth.
osteoplasty - Plastic surgery of a bone.
osteoporotic - Porous condition of bones from a loss of bone mass or density.
osteotome - Tool used for cutting bone.
osteotomy - Surgical cutting of a bone.
oversew - Suture technique to reinforce primary repair, control a bleed or leak, repair an injury, or to close an ulcer, a cardiac valve, a cyst, or a left atrial appendage (LAA). Various suture patterns can be used.
- P -
packing - Material placed into a cavity or wound, such as gels, gauze, pads, and sponges.
palpate - Examination by feeling with the hand.
paring - Cutting away an edge or a surface.
paronychia - Infection or cellulitis of nail structures.
pathology - Medical science, and specialty practice, regarding all aspects of disease, with special reference to the essential nature, causes, and development of abnormal conditions, as well as the structural and functional changes that result from the disease processes.
pedicle - Stem-like, narrow base or stalk attached to a new growth.
peduncle - Connecting structures of the brain.
penetrate - Pierce.
percutaneous - Through the skin.
percutaneous skeletal fixation - Treatment that is neither open nor closed and the injury site is not directly visualized. Fixation devices (pins, screws) are placed through the skin to stabilize the dislocation using x-ray guidance.
periosteum - Double-layered connective membrane on the outer surface of bone.
phacoemulsification - Cataract extraction in which the lens is fragmented by ultrasonic vibrations and simultaneously irrigated and aspirated.
photocoagulation - Application of an intense laser beam of light to disrupt tissue and condense protein material to a residual mass, used especially for treating ocular conditions.
pilonidal - Containing a tuft of hair.
pinning - Bone fastening.
plasma - Liquid portion of normal unclotted blood that contains red cells, white cells, and platelets.
plethysmography - Recording of the volume changes in an organ or body part, particularly related to the amount of blood circulating through it.
pleurodesis - Injection of a sclerosing agent into the pleural space for creating adhesions between the parietal and the visceral pleura to treat a collapsed lung caused by air trapped in the pleural cavity, or severe cases of pleural effusion.
plication - Surgical technique involving folding, tucking, or pleating to reduce the size of a hollow structure or organ.
portable - Movable.
posterior - Located in the back part or caudal end of the body.
probing - Exploration using a slender, often flexible rod.
procedure - Diagnostic or therapeutic service provided for the care and treatment of a patient, usually conforming to a specific set of steps or instructions.
process - Anatomical projection or prominence on a bone.
prognosis - Forecast of the probable outcome of a condition or disease and the prospects of recovery and disease residual, dependent on the nature of the disease and the patient's response to treatment.
prone - Lying face downward.
prophylaxis - Intervention or protective therapy intended to prevent a disease.
prostate - Male gland surrounding the bladder neck and urethra that secretes a substance into the seminal fluid.
prosthesis - Man-made substitute for a missing body part.
prostrate - Recline on one's front.
proximal - Located closest to a specified reference point, usually the midline or trunk.
pump - Forcing gas or liquid from a body part.
puncture - Creating a hole.
pyelotomy - Incision or opening made into the renal pelvis.
- Q -
qualitative - To determine the nature or characteristics of the components of a substance.
quantitative - To determine the number or amount of the components of a substance.
- R -
radical - Extensive surgery.
radiograph - Image made by an x-ray.
radiopaque dye - Medium injected into the body that is impenetrable by x-rays.
ream - Shape or enlarge a hole.
recess - Small empty cavity in a body part.
reconstruct - Tissue rebuilding.
reduce - Restoration to normal position or alignment.
reduction - Correction of a fracture, dislocation, or hernia to the correct place and alignment, manually or by surgery.
refer - Recommendation to another source.
regulation - Directive, order, ruling, or law put forth by an executive authority granted such powers by law.
reimplant - Reinsert or reattach tissue.
reinforce - Enhancement of strength.
reinnervation - Restoration of nerve function.
release - Disconnection of a tendon or ligament.
reoperation - Repeat performance of operation.
repair - Surgical closure of a wound. The wound may be a result of injury/trauma or it may be a surgically created defect. Repairs are divided into three categories: simple, intermediate, and complex.
replacement - Insertion of new tissue or material in place of old one.
reposition - Placement of an organ or structure into another position or return of an organ or structure to its original position.
resect - Cutting out or removing a portion or all of a bone, organ, or other structure.
reservoir - Space or body cavity for storage of liquid.
response - Reaction to stimulus.
retraction - Act of holding tissue or a structure back away from its normal position or the field of interest.
revascularize - Restoring blood flow or blood supply to a body part.
revision - Reordering or rearrangement of tissue to suit a particular need or function.
rhinoplasty - Reconstructive, restorative, or cosmetic plastic surgery of the nose.
rod - Straight, slim, cylindrical metal instrument for therapeutics.
rongeur - Sharp-edged instrument with a scoop-tip used to cut through tissue and bone.
routine - Normal activity.
- S -
sagittal - Up and down along the length of the body, as opposed to across it (transverse).
sagittal plane - Imaginary plane in the human body that travels from the top to the bottom of the body, dividing it into left and right portions.
sclerose - To become hard or firm and indurated from increased formation of connective tissue or disease.
section - Process of cutting a division or segment out of a part.
selective - Separation.
sequestrectomy - Surgical excision of a nonviable piece of bone that has become walled off, or sequestered, away from living bone during necrosis.
serum - Clear liquid portion of the blood that remains after the clotting proteins and blood cells have been removed.
seton - Finely spun thread or other fine material for leading the passage of wider instruments through a fistula, canal, or sinus tract.
sever - Separate completely.
shunt - Surgically created passage between blood vessels or other natural passages, such as an arteriovenous anastomosis, to divert or bypass blood flow from the normal channel.
sialolith - Calculus, stone, or concretion within the salivary ducts or glands.
sigmoidoscopy - Endoscopic examination of the entire rectum and sigmoid colon, often including a portion of the descending colon and usually performed with a flexible fiberoptic scope in conjunction with a surgical procedure.
simple repair - Surgical closure of a superficial wound requiring single layer suturing of the skin (epidermis, dermis, or subcutaneous tissue).
skeletal traction - Applying direct pulling force on the long axis of bones by inserted wires or pins and using weights and pulleys to keep the bone in proper alignment.
skin traction - Application of a pulling force to a limb accomplished by a device fixed to felt dressings or strappings applied to the body surface.
smear - Specimen for study that is spread out across a glass slide.
snare - Wire used as a loop to excise a polyp or lesion.
sound - Long, slender tool with a type of curved, flat probe at the end for dilating strictures or detecting foreign bodies.
spatulate - Cut the open end of a tubular structure with a lengthwise incision and open the end out further for greater opening size in an anastomosis.
specimen - Tissue cells or sample of fluid taken for analysis, pathologic examination, and diagnosis.
speculum - Tool used to enlarge the opening of any canal or cavity.
spiculum - Small, needle-like body or spike.
splint - Brace or support for an anatomical structure after surgery or injury.
steal - Diversion of blood to another channel.
stenosis - Narrowing or constriction of a passage.
stent - Tube to provide support in a body cavity or lumen.
stereotaxis - Three-dimensional method for precisely locating structures.
stoma - Opening created in the abdominal wall from an internal organ or structure for diversion of waste elimination, drainage, and access.
strapping - Application of overlapping strips of tape or bandaging to put pressure on and immobilize the affected area.
stricture - Narrowing of an anatomical structure.
subluxation - Partial or incomplete dislocation (separation) of a joint with misalignment but maintenance of some contact between the bones.
subtraction - Process of using an image to remove an overlying structure in another image to better visualize the area underneath the overlying structure.
suction - Vacuum evacuation of fluid or tissue.
superior - Located toward the head or top of the body.
supine - Lying on the back.
suppression - Holding back, putting in check, or inhibiting an act, function, thought, or desire.
suppurative - Forming pus.
survival - Continued life.
suspension - Fixation of an organ for support; temporary state of cessation of an activity, process, or experience.
suture - Stitching technique employed in wound closure.
symphysis - Joint that unifies two opposed bones by a junction of bony surfaces to a plate of fibrocartilage.
synchondrosis - Two bones joined by hyaline cartilage or fibrocartilage. Typically, the bones fuse as they mature.
synovia - Clear fluid lubricant of joints, bursae, and tendon sheaths, secreted by the synovial membrane.
- T -
talectomy - Surgical removal of the astragalus (talus), the bone that forms the ankle joint by articulating with the tibia and fibula. Indications include trauma, congenital abnormalities, severe fractures, chronic infection, or tumors.
tap - Withdraw fluid through a needle or trocar.
technique - Manner of performance.
teletherapy - External beam radiotherapy or other treatment applied from a source maintained at a distance away from the body.
tenodesis - Stabilization of a joint by anchoring tendons.
tenolysis - Release of a tendon from adhesions.
therapeutic - Act meant to alleviate a medical or mental condition.
thoracentesis - Surgical puncture of the chest cavity with a specialized needle or hollow tubing to aspirate fluid from within the pleural space for diagnostic or therapeutic reasons.
thoracotomy - Surgical procedure for opening the chest wall in order to access the lungs, esophagus, trachea, aorta, heart, and diaphragm.
thrombectomy - Removal of a clot (thrombus) from a blood vessel utilizing various methods.
tomograph - Method of precise x-ray.
tomosynthesis - Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), also referred to as three-dimensional (3D) mammography, creates a three-dimensional picture of the breast from many angles using low-dose x-rays. Several images, usually between 10 and 15, are taken over approximately seven seconds. Once the images have been taken, computer programs produce clear and highly-focused 3D representations of the breast that the radiologist can view as thin layers of breast tissue, similar to CT scan images.
tracheostomy - Formation of a tracheal opening on the neck surface with tube insertion to allow for respiration in cases of obstruction or decreased patency. A tracheostomy may be planned or performed on an emergency basis for temporary or long-term use.
traction - Drawing out or holding tension on an area by applying a direct therapeutic pulling force.
tractor - Instrument for pulling an organ.
transcatheter - Procedure or treatment performed via a catheter.
transection - Transverse dissection; to cut across a long axis; cross section.
transfer - Situation in which the patient is transferred to another acute care hospital for related care.
transplant - Insertion of an organ or tissue from one person or site into another.
transposition - Removal or exchange from one side to another; change of position from one place to another.
transverse - Crosswise at right angles to the long axis of a structure or part.
treatment - Management of patient.
Trendelenburg position - Lying on a flat back with the supporting structure angled to lower the patient's head downward 15 to 30 degrees.
trephine - 1) Instrument that removes small disc-shaped buttons of corneal tissue for transplanting. 2) Specialized round saw for cutting circular holes in bone, especially the skull.
trocar - Cannula or a sharp pointed instrument used to puncture and aspirate fluid from cavities.
tube - Long, hollow cylindrical instrument or body structure.
- U -
ulcer - Open sore or excavating lesion of skin or the tissue on the surface of an organ from the sloughing of chronically inflamed and necrosing tissue.
ultrasound - Imaging using ultra-high sound frequency bounced off body structures.
undiversion - Restoration of continuity, flow, or passage through the normal channel.
urachus - Embryonic tube connecting the urinary bladder to the umbilicus during development of the fetus that normally closes before birth, generally in the fourth or fifth month of gestation.
ureostomy - Connection of the ureter to a stoma on the abdominal skin.
ureterocele - Saccular formation of the lower part of the ureter, protruding into the bladder.
ureteropyelogram - Radiologic study of the renal pelvis and the ureter.
- V -
V-Y operation - Plastic surgery technique that is used to cover defects or wounds on surface areas of the body and also to lengthen some anatomic structures. Incision or wound shape is in a V pattern and the flap is approximated to cover the defect area as a Y shape. V-Y operation is used in many types of repairs and reconstructions, such as injuries, skin defects, nasal deformities, perianal or perineal areas after tumor resection or necrotizing fasciitis, fingertip amputations, and penile elongation in cases of hidden penis.
valve - Fold or membrane within a body canal or passageway that prevents backflow of fluids running through it.
varices - Enlarged, dilated, or twisted turning veins.
vascular family - Group of vessels (family) that branch from the aorta or vena cava. At each branching, the vascular order increases by one. The first order vessel is the primary branch off the aorta or vena cava. The second order vessel branches from the first order, the third order branches from the second order, and any further branching is beyond the third order. For example, for the inferior vena cava, the common iliac artery is a first order vessel. The internal and external iliac arteries are second order vessels, as they each originate from the first order common iliac artery. The external iliac artery extends directly from the common iliac artery and the internal iliac artery bifurcates from the common iliac artery. A third order vessel from the external iliac artery is the inferior epigastric artery and a third order vessel from the internal iliac artery is the obturator artery.
vasectomy - Surgical procedure involving the removal of all or part of the vas deferens, usually performed for sterilization or in conjunction with a prostatectomy.
ventral - Pertaining or relating on, to, or toward the lower abdominal plane of the body; located on, near, or toward the front area of the body.
vermilion border - Red margin of the upper and lower lip that commences at the exterior edge of the intraoral labial mucosa, and extends outward, terminating at the extraoral labial cutaneous junction.
vestibuloplasty - Surgical procedure in which the vestibule of the mouth is deepened for the purpose of increasing the height of the alveolar ridge.
vestigial - Remains or remnant of a structure occurring in the fetal stage of growth.
vomer - Flat bone that forms the lower, posterior portion of the nasal septum.
vulvectomy - Surgical removal of all or part of the vulva, often performed to treat malignant or premalignant lesions. Lymph nodes may be removed at the same surgical session.
- W -
W-D - Wet to dry (dressings).
Walsh modified radical prostatectomy - Radical prostatectomy resects the rectum and surrounding tissue trying to save sexual function of the patient.
wedge excision - Surgical removal of a section of tissue that is thick at one edge and tapers to a thin edge.
whistle tip catheter - Catheter design with a lateral and terminal opening.
wick catheter - Device used to monitor interstitial fluid pressure, and sometimes used intraoperatively during fasciotomy procedures to evaluate the effectiveness of the decompression.
wound - Injury to living tissue often involving a cut or break in the skin.
wound closure - Closure or repair of a wound created surgically or due to trauma (e.g., laceration). Closure technique depends on the type, site, and depth of the defect, as well as cosmetic and functional outcome. Single layer closure involves approximation of the edges of the wound. Other types of closure involve closing one or more deeper layers of tissue prior to skin closure. Complex closure may include techniques such as debridement or undermining, which involves manipulation of tissue around the wound to allow the skin to cover the wound. AMA CPT® book defines these as simple, intermediate, and complex repair.
wound repair - Closure of a wound created surgically or due to trauma (e.g., laceration). Closure technique depends on the type, site, and depth of the defect, as well as cosmetic and functional outcome. Primary (simple) closure involves approximation of the edges of the wound. Intermediate closure involves closing the deeper layers of tissue prior to skin closure. Complex closure may include techniques such as debridement or undermining, which involves manipulation of tissue around the wound to allow the skin to cover the wound.
- X -
xenograft - Tissue that is harvested from one species and grafted to another. Pigskin is the most common xenograft for human skin and is applied to a wound as a temporary closure until a permanent option is performed.
xenotransplantation - Use of live, nonhuman animal cells, tissues, and organs grafted into humans, such as porcine skin grafts derived from pigs.
- Z -
z-plasty - Plastic surgery technique used primarily to release tension or elongate contractured scar tissue in which a Z-shaped incision is made with the middle line of the Z crossing the area of greatest tension. The triangular flaps are then rotated so that they cross the incision line in the opposite direction, creating a reversed Z.
ZEEP - Zero end-expiratory pressure.
zygoma - Zygomatic process of the temporal bone that creates the cheekbone.
zygomatic arch - Part of the temporal bone of the skull that forms the prominence of the cheek.