thyrotomy
- noun
- /θaɪˈrɒtəmi/
- Specialized
- The surgeon performed a thyrotomy to access the patient's thyroid gland for treatment.
Examples
-
We excised the tumor via a lateral thyrotomy approach.
Academic text (2005) -
These authors concluded that the infant larynx could be divided carefully by a median vertical thyrotomy without impairment of laryngeal development or function.
Academic text (1995) -
The supraglottic schwannoma is excised via a left thyrotomy approach.
Academic text (2005) -
An external approach is indicated for larger tumors—either a lateral pharyngotomy, lateral thyrotomy, or a laryngofissure technique.
Academic text (2005) -
After the thyrotomy, the team was able to remove the obstruction from the airway.
-
A thyrotomy is often necessary in cases where swift intervention is needed for throat injuries.
How Invasive
Surface Forms
Morphology
thyrotomy = thyroid (semi-transparent) = thyro + tomy
The term 'thyrotomy' is derived from 'thyroid' by combining a clipped form 'thyro-' with '-tomy', but this is not a standard derivational process in English.
Etymology
The word thyrotomy comes from Greek parts thyro- meaning 'shield' because the thyroid cartilage looks like a small shield, and -tomy meaning 'cut', the same root in anatomy. So, a thyrotomy is a surgical 'cut' into the thyroid area, which explains the modern medical meaning.