Surgical Procedures Glossary

noun the action of surgically removing a limb or other part of the body

• The doctor recommended amputation as the only solution to prevent the infection from spreading.
• I heard that John had to undergo amputation after his accident.
• Losing a limb is no joke, it's like getting a forced amputation.
• She felt like a part of her soul underwent amputation when she lost her best friend.

adjective relating to or affecting the skin

• The cutaneous nerves are responsible for transmitting sensations from the skin to the brain.
• I have a cutaneous rash on my arm from an allergic reaction.
• Her cutaneous piercing is really cool.
• The artist used cutaneous imagery in her paintings to evoke a sense of touch.

verb to administer ether to someone in order to render them unconscious or insensible

• The doctor decided to etherize the patient before performing the surgery.
• The dentist will etherize you before pulling out your tooth.
• I heard they had to etherize that crazy guy at the bar last night.
• The hypnotic music seemed to etherize the audience, putting them in a trance-like state.

adjective relating to the stomach or the process of digestion

• The patient was diagnosed with gastric ulcers after experiencing severe stomach pain.
• I heard eating spicy food can cause gastric problems.
• I shouldn't have eaten that street food, now I have a bad case of gastric distress.
• The company's financial troubles were like a gastric attack, causing pain and discomfort to everyone involved.

noun the act of putting something into something else

• The insertion of the needle was done with precision by the skilled surgeon.
• Make sure you double check the insertion of the key before turning it in the lock.
• I messed up the insertion of the USB drive and now my computer won't recognize it.
• The insertion of new ideas into the conversation sparked a lively debate among the group.

verb to tear or make deep cuts in flesh or skin

adjective having been cut or torn deeply

• The surgeon carefully stitched up the lacerated wound to prevent infection.
• Ouch, I accidentally lacerated my finger on that sharp edge.
• I can't believe he lacerated his arm trying to show off on his skateboard.
• Her heart felt lacerated after the betrayal by her best friend.

noun the action or process of functioning or working

verb to perform a function or work as intended

adjective functioning or in use

• The company is currently operating at full capacity to meet the high demand.
• The restaurant is still operating despite the late hour.
• I heard that new club is operating under the radar to avoid getting shut down.
• His mind was like a well-oiled machine, smoothly operating through complex problems.

noun a delicate serous membrane enclosing the lungs and lining the pleural cavity

• The pleura is a thin membrane that lines the chest cavity and surrounds the lungs.
• I learned in biology class that the pleura is like a protective layer around the lungs.
• My doctor said my pleura was inflamed, so I have to take it easy for a while.
• The pleura of society is the protection and support provided by its laws and regulations.

noun the condition of containing or being full of pus; the presence of pus in a bodily fluid

adjective relating to or characterized by the presence of pus

• The purulence of the wound indicated a serious infection that required immediate medical attention.
• The doctor said the purulence was a sign that the cut was infected.
• Eww, that's gross! The purulence coming out of the wound is nasty.
• The purulence of corruption within the company was finally exposed during the investigation.

adjective relating to or involving revision; serving to revise or review

• The revisional process is crucial in ensuring the accuracy of the final report.
• I need to do some revisional work on my essay before submitting it.
• I'm gonna do some last-minute revisional stuff before the exam.
• Life is like a never-ending revisional process, always learning and improving.

noun the act of giving or receiving a transfusion

• The patient received a blood transfusion after losing a significant amount of blood.
• They had to give him a blood transfusion because he lost a lot of blood.
• They hooked her up to a blood transfusion to help her out.
• The company needed a financial transfusion to stay afloat during the economic downturn.

noun a mass of tissue formed by an abnormal growth of cells; may be benign or malignant

• The doctor discovered a malignant tumor during the patient's routine check-up.
• They found a tumor in his lung, but they think they caught it early.
• Dude, did you hear about Sarah's tumor? It's like, totally scary.
• The tumor of corruption within the company was finally exposed and dealt with.

noun the internal organs in the main cavities of the body, especially those in the abdomen, e.g., the intestines

• The surgeon carefully examined the patient's viscera during the operation.
• The doctor checked out the guy's guts during the surgery.
• The doc took a peek at the dude's insides during the procedure.
• She felt like her emotions were being torn apart, exposing her raw viscera.

noun a treatment that involves the use of extreme cold to freeze and destroy abnormal tissue, such as tumors

• Cryotherapy is a medical treatment that involves exposing the body to extremely cold temperatures for therapeutic purposes.
• I tried cryotherapy last week and it was so cold but refreshing at the same time.
• I heard cryotherapy is like being in a freezer for your whole body, but it's supposed to be good for you.
• After a long day at work, a hot shower feels like cryotherapy for the soul.

adverb relating to the abdomen or located in the abdomen

• The surgeon made an incision abdominally to access the internal organs.
• She had to have surgery abdominally to remove the tumor.
• I can't believe how ripped he is abdominally!
• The team was hit abdominally by the news of their star player's injury.

noun a combining form meaning 'abdomen,' used in the formation of compound words

• The abdomino-pelvic cavity contains many vital organs.
• I've been having some discomfort in my abdomino area.
• I need to work on my abdomino muscles for beach season.
• Her laughter caused a ripple in his abdomino region.

noun a part of the femur bone where the adductor muscles attach

• The adductor impression on the femur is an important landmark for orthopedic surgeons.
• Make sure you locate the adductor impression when studying for your anatomy exam.
• I totally forgot where the adductor impression is located on the bone.
• The adductor impression serves as a guidepost for understanding the inner workings of the human body.