Question

the procedural term \thoracotomy\ means: surgical incision into the thorax surgical creation of a new opening to the outside of the trachea surgical incision into trachea

Explanation:

The suffix "-otomy" means surgical incision. The root word "thorac-" refers to the thorax (chest). So, "thoracotomy" is a surgical incision into the thorax. The second option describes a tracheostomy (creation of an opening in the trachea) and the third option is a tracheotomy (incision into the trachea).

Answer:

surgical incision into the thorax