Which suffix means surgical removal of a specified part of the body?

• A. plasty
• B. ectomy
• C. lysis
• D. emia

Answer: (B)

Suffix -ectomy indicates surgical removal of a part. It comes from a Greek root meaning excision, and it’s used in procedures like appendectomy (removal of the appendix) or nephrectomy (removal of a kidney). This makes it the best choice when the question asks for a suffix that denotes removing a specified body part. In contrast, -plasty refers to repair or reshaping, not removal; -lysis means breaking down or dissolving tissue; and -emia describes a blood condition, not a procedure.