Lithotomies

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A surgical procedure involving the removal of stones from organs, particularly the bladder or kidneys
2. it can also refer to the operation itself for dealing with such conditions
3. multiple types of incisions can be utilized depending on the location of the stones being treated

Etymology: The plural "lithotomies" is simply the plural of "lithotomy," the name for the surgical removal of a stone from the bladder or another part of the body. Its parts are plain Greek: "lithos" meant "stone," and "temnein" meant "to cut," so the word literally means "stone-cutting." The "-tomy" ending is the same cutting element found in words such as "appendectomy" and "anatomy." The word is a modern coinage built from classical roots, so it was not used by ancient Greek physicians in this form. Its components were assembled in English medical writing, and the ancient Greek elements were simply recombined to name a procedure that had its own long history of practice.