The suffix -OTOMY denotes which concept?

The suffix -OTOMY denotes which concept?

• A. Incision
• B. Destruction
• C. Repair
• D. Opening

Answer: (A)

The suffix -otomy indicates a surgical incision into a body part. It describes the act of cutting into something to access it, not merely creating an opening, destroying tissue, or repairing it. That’s why it best matches the concept of an incision. For context, a term like craniotomy literally means an incision into the skull, while an opening created to allow drainage or passage is usually described with -ostomy (not -otomy). Destruction or breakdown is shown by suffixes like -lysis or -clasis, and repair or reconstruction by -plasty or -rrhaphy.

The suffix -otomy indicates a surgical incision into a body part. It describes the act of cutting into something to access it, not merely creating an opening, destroying tissue, or repairing it. That’s why it best matches the concept of an incision. For context, a term like craniotomy literally means an incision into the skull, while an opening created to allow drainage or passage is usually described with -ostomy (not -otomy). Destruction or breakdown is shown by suffixes like -lysis or -clasis, and repair or reconstruction by -plasty or -rrhaphy.