Medical Terminology Simplified

7–10 Nephr/o/lith/iasis occurs when salts in the urine precipitate (settle out of

solution and grow in size). Elimination of the stone(s) may occur spontaneously, but

crushing the stone(s) by means of lith/o/tripsy may sometimes be necessary.

Build medical terms that mean

excision of a stone: __________ / ____________________

crushing a stone:__________ / _____ / ____________________

7–11 Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a surgical procedure used

to treat ren/al calculi. Powerful ultrasound (US) vibrations break up and destroy cal-

culi in the urinary tract. (See Fig. 7–4.) The calculi and their fragments are removed

during urination and by administration of an oral dissolution drug.

Identify the following abbreviations:

ultrasound: __________

extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy:__________

7–12 Surgical suffixes -ectomy, -tomy,and -tomeare commonly confusing to be-

ginning medical terminology students. To reinforce your understanding of their

meanings, review them in the following chart.

Surgical Suffix Meaning

-ectomy excision, removal

-tomy incision

-tome instrument to cut

Frame 7–2to Frame 7–12

Macroscopic Structures • CHAPTER 7 285285

Kidney stones

Figure 7-3Kidney stones shown in the calyces and ureter.

lith/ectomy

lĭ-THĔK-tō-mē

lith/o/tripsy

LĬTH-ō-trĭp-sē

US

ESWL