noun
thoracotomy
Thoracotomy (noun) means a surgical cut into the chest wall, usually made so a surgeon can reach the heart, lungs, or other organs inside. Example: “The surgeon performed a thoracotomy to remove a portion of the damaged lung.”
noun
1
A surgical cut into the chest wall, usually made so a surgeon can reach the heart, lungs, or other organs inside.
"The surgeon performed a thoracotomy to remove a portion of the damaged lung."
"Recovery from a thoracotomy can be painful because the incision crosses major chest muscles."
How to use thoracotomy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA surgical opening cut into the chest, usually a first step before operating on the heart or lungs.
Common pairings
open thoracotomy
perform a thoracotomy
thoracotomy incision
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Word forms
- Plural
- thoracotomies
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The surgeon performed a _____ to remove a portion of the damaged lung.
Etymology
From thoraco- (relating to the chest) plus -tomy (a cutting), from Greek roots meaning "to cut."
Rhymes for thoracotomy
roomy
gloomy
sodomy
economy
anatomy
taxonomy
antinomy
autotomy
autonomy
lobotomy
dichotomy
astronomy
See all rhymes for thoracotomy →
Frequently asked questions
What does “thoracotomy” mean?
The word “thoracotomy” means a surgical cut into the chest wall, usually made so a surgeon can reach the heart, lungs, or other organs inside. In plain terms, a surgical opening cut into the chest, usually a first step before operating on the heart or lungs.
How do you use “thoracotomy” in a sentence?
Here is “thoracotomy” used in a sentence: “The surgeon performed a thoracotomy to remove a portion of the damaged lung.”
What part of speech is “thoracotomy”?
“Thoracotomy” is a noun.
Where does the word “thoracotomy” come from?
The word “thoracotomy” comes from Latin. From thoraco- (relating to the chest) plus -tomy (a cutting), from Greek roots meaning "to cut.".
