Question

match each definition with the correct term.

pyothorax
thoracentesis
thoracotomy
tracheostomy
tracheotomy

definitions:

• creation of an opening into the trachea to insert a tube
• an accumulation of pus in the pleural cavity
• surgical incision into the pleural cavity
• surgical puncture to remove fluid from the pleural cavity
• emergency procedure performed to gain access to the airway

Explanation:

Analyze the word roots

Using the Medical Terminology knowledge point, we break down the word roots:

• thorac/o refers to the chest or pleural cavity.
• trache/o refers to the trachea or windpipe.
• py/o refers to pus.

Analyze the suffixes

Using the Medical Terminology knowledge point, we break down the suffixes:

• -thorax refers to the chest or pleural cavity.
• -centesis refers to a surgical puncture to remove fluid.
• -tomy refers to a surgical incision or cutting into.
• -stomy refers to the creation of an artificial opening.

Match terms with thorac/o

Using the Medical Terminology knowledge point:

• pyothorax: py/o (pus) + -thorax (chest cavity) = an accumulation of pus in the pleural cavity.
• thoracentesis: thorac/o (chest) + -centesis (puncture to remove fluid) = surgical puncture to remove fluid from the pleural cavity.
• thoracotomy: thorac/o (chest) + -tomy (incision) = surgical incision into the pleural cavity.

Match terms with trache/o

Using the Medical Terminology knowledge point:

• tracheostomy: trache/o (trachea) + -stomy (creation of an opening) = creation of an opening into the trachea to insert a tube.
• tracheotomy: trache/o (trachea) + -tomy (incision) = emergency procedure performed to gain access to the airway (by cutting into the trachea).

Answer:

Term	Definition
thoracentesis	surgical puncture to remove fluid from the pleural cavity
thoracotomy	surgical incision into the pleural cavity
tracheostomy	creation of an opening into the trachea to insert a tube
tracheotomy	emergency procedure performed to gain access to the airway