The suffix meaning cut into, incision is:
A.-ous
B.-itis
C.-osis
D.-tomy
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is D. -tomy.
The suffix -tomy is used in medical terminology to denote a surgical incision or the act of cutting into a part of the body. It comes from the Greek word tomia, meaning “cutting” or “surgery.” In medical procedures, -tomy refers to the creation of an incision, typically during a surgical procedure, to allow access to organs or tissues that need to be examined, repaired, or treated.
For example, the term appendectomy refers to the surgical removal of the appendix, where -ectomy refers to the removal of an organ or tissue, and -tomy refers to cutting into the body to perform the procedure. Another example is tracheotomy, where -otomy refers to an incision into the trachea, usually performed to create an opening to facilitate breathing.
It is important to differentiate -tomy from other suffixes that might seem similar but have different meanings:
- -ous (option A) is an adjective suffix meaning “full of” or “having the qualities of.” For example, “nervous” means full of nerves.
- -itis (option B) indicates inflammation. For instance, arthritis refers to inflammation of the joints.
- -osis (option C) denotes a condition, usually abnormal or diseased, such as cirrhosis (a disease of the liver).
Therefore, -tomy is the correct suffix to describe a surgical procedure involving cutting or making an incision, while the other suffixes serve different purposes in medical terminology.