-ectomy, -ectome, -ectomize

The excision of the gasserian ganglion (group of nerve cell bodies) of the trigeminal nerve.

The gasserian ganglion is a large ganglion, at the root of the trigeminal, or fifth cranial, nerve.

Trigeminal refers to the fifth pair of cranial nerves, which divide on each side of the head into three main branches distributed to the orbits, jaws, and parts of the mouth; trifacial.

Surgery to remove part or all of the stomach.

An incision is made in the abdomen. A portion or all of the stomach (depending on the reason for the operation) is cut free from surrounding tissues, its blood supply is controlled and sewn shut, and then the stomach or part of it can be removed.

Depending on the type of operation, the intestine is then reconnected to the remaining stomach (in the case of a partial gastrectomy) or to the esophagus (in the case of a total gastrectomy).

The excision of the stomach and the duodenum part of the small intestine between the stomach and the jejunum.

The duodenum extends from the pylorus at the bottom of the stomach to the jejunum, the second part of the small intestine. The duodenum is a common site for the formation of peptic ulcers.

The duodenum began as the Greek dodeka-daktulon, "twelve fingers", because they apparently observed that the duodenum is about twelve finger-breadths long. In German, the popular term for duodenum is Zwölffingerdarm, the "twelve-finger intestine".

The jejunum is a part of the small intestine which is half-way down the small intestine between its duodenum and ileum sections.

The term jejunum derives from the Latin jejunus, "empty of food, meager" or "hungry". The ancient Greeks noticed at death that this part of the intestine was always empty of food; so, from that came the jejunum.

The Latin jejunus also gave rise to jejune, "lacking in nutritive value and devoid of substance, significance, or interest" and "that which is dull".

A jejune argument is one that is empty (like the jejunum) and totally devoid of interest.

Excision of the pylorus (opening in a vertebrate from the stomach into the intestine).

Surgical excision of the gingiva (the gum around a teeth) at the level of its attachment, thus creating new marginal gingiva.

This procedure is used to eliminate gingival or periodontal (gum) pockets or to provide an approach for extensive surgical interventions, and to gain access necessary to remove calculus within the pocket.

Excision of a glomus tumor (painful tumor composed of specialized pericytes that are usually arranged in single encapsulated nodular masses that occur almost exclusively in the skin).

A glomus body is a component of the dermis layer of the skin, involved in body temperature regulation.

Glomus bodies are most numerous in the fingers and toes and they move blood away from the skin surface when exposed to cold temperature, thus preventing heat loss; and also, allowing maximum heat flow to the skin in warm weather to allow heat to dissipate.

1. Partial or total surgical excision of the tongue.
2. Excision or amputation of the tongue.

1. Excision of the ovary or testis.
2. To deprive of the gonads, or testis, by surgical excision.
3. Castration.

The surgical removal of all or part of the vas deferens (a coiled duct that conveys sperm from the epididymis to the ejaculatory duct and the urethra), usually as a means of sterilization in men.

The epididymis is a coiled segment of the spermatic ducts that serves to store, mature and transport spermatozoa between the testis and the vas (vas deferens).

1. Excision of a convolution (fold, twist, or coil of the brain), or gyrus (convolution on the surface of the cerebral hemisphere), of the cerebrum.
2. Excision or resection of a cerebral gyrus, or of a portion of the cerebral cortex.

Surgical removal of the right or left side of the colon.

Surgical removal of the lower half of the body, including the lower extremities, bony pelvis, genitalia, and the various parts of the pelvic contents including the lower part of the rectum to the anus.

1. Separation and reflection of the greater part or all of one half of the cranium, as a preliminary to an operation upon the brain.
2. The exposure of half of the brain by sectioning the vault of the skull from front to back near the median line and forcing the entire side outward.

1. Excision of the distal (remote) half of the stomach.
2. Surgical removal of one half of the stomach.

1. Surgery in which the tongue is divided lengthwise and one half is removed, usually because of cancer.
2. Resection of one side of the tongue.