How Do You Spell COMMISSUROTOMY?

1. Commissurotomy is a medical procedure performed to surgically separate or divide a commissure, which is the point of attachment or union between two parts of a structure. It is most commonly used in the context of heart surgery to treat certain heart valve conditions.

   In the case of the heart, commissurotomy involves the incision or removal of the fibrous tissue connecting the leaflets of a heart valve, particularly the mitral valve or the tricuspid valve. These valves are responsible for ensuring the one-way flow of blood through the heart, and when they become stiff or narrowed due to conditions like mitral or tricuspid stenosis, a commissurotomy may be necessary to restore their functionality.

   During the procedure, the surgeon makes an incision or performs an excision at the site of the commissure, effectively separating the leaflets of the valve and widening the opening. This allows the valve to open and close more freely, improving blood flow through the heart.

   Commissurotomy can be performed through traditional open-heart surgery or using minimally invasive techniques such as robotic-assisted surgery or percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty. The choice of approach depends on factors such as the severity of the valve condition and the overall health of the patient.

   Overall, commissurotomy is a surgical intervention used to treat specific heart valve disorders, aiming to restore normal blood flow and improve cardiovascular function.

Common Misspellings for COMMISSUROTOMY

The word "commissurotomy" is derived from two Latin roots: "commissura" and "tomia".

1. "Commissura" comes from the Latin verb "committere", which means "to join together" or "to unite". In anatomy, "commissura" refers to a connection or junction between two structures or organs. It can also indicate a crossing point of nerve fibers or blood vessels.

2. "Tomia" is derived from the Greek word "tomē", meaning "incision" or "cutting". It is commonly used as a suffix in medical terms related to surgical procedures involving cutting or incising tissues.

Therefore, combining both roots, "commissurotomy" literally means "a surgical incision or cutting of a commissura". It refers to a procedure that involves cutting or separating the commissures, which are the connections between certain structures within the body.

Plural form of COMMISSUROTOMY is COMMISSUROTOMIES