What does the suffix -tomy mean?

What does the suffix -tomy mean?

• A. To cut
• B. Development or growth
• C. Urine
• D. Ear drum, middle ear

Answer: (A)

The suffix -tomy means to cut or make an incision. It comes from a Greek root for cutting, and it’s used in medical terms to describe procedures where a part of the body is cut into or opened, like tracheotomy or craniotomy. Because of that, the correct answer is “to cut.” The other options point to different suffixes: development or growth isn’t indicated by -tomy (it’s often -plasty or -trophy), urine would be shown by -uria, and terms about the ear drum or middle ear use different roots such as tympan- rather than -tomy.

The suffix -tomy means to cut or make an incision. It comes from a Greek root for cutting, and it’s used in medical terms to describe procedures where a part of the body is cut into or opened, like tracheotomy or craniotomy. Because of that, the correct answer is “to cut.” The other options point to different suffixes: development or growth isn’t indicated by -tomy (it’s often -plasty or -trophy), urine would be shown by -uria, and terms about the ear drum or middle ear use different roots such as tympan- rather than -tomy.