How Do You Spell TONSILLOTOMY?

Pronunciation: [tˌɒnsɪlˈɒtəmɪ] (IPA)

Tonsillotomy (/tɒn.sɪˈlɒt.ə.mi/) is a medical term that refers to the partial removal of the tonsils. The spelling of this word may seem complex, but it can be broken down using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The "ton" sounds like "tahn" (/tɒn/), the "sil" sounds like "sill" (/sɪl/), and the "ot" sounds like "oh-tuh" (/ˈɒt/). Finally, the "omy" sounds like "ah-mee" (/ˈɒm.i/). Together, these sounds create the word "tonsillotomy."

TONSILLOTOMY Meaning and Definition

1. Tonsillotomy is a term used within the field of medicine to describe a surgical procedure that involves the partial removal or reduction of the tonsils. The tonsils are two oval-shaped masses of lymphoid tissue located at the back of the throat, one on each side. They play a crucial role in the immune system, helping to fight off infections and act as a defense against bacteria and viruses.

   During a tonsillotomy, a surgeon carefully removes a part of the tonsils, aiming to achieve a reduction in their size or volume. The procedure is typically performed under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation. Compared to a full tonsillectomy, where the entire tonsils are removed, a tonsillotomy involves a less invasive approach that aims to preserve some of the tonsil tissue.

   Tonsillotomies are commonly performed to address various symptoms and conditions related to the tonsils. These may include recurrent tonsillitis (inflammation of the tonsils), chronic tonsillitis, difficulty in swallowing or breathing due to enlarged tonsils, or obstructive sleep apnea, a condition where the air passage is partially or completely blocked during sleep. By reducing the size of the tonsils without their complete removal, a tonsillotomy aims to alleviate symptoms while still maintaining some of the tonsil's immunological function.

   Overall, tonsillotomy is a surgical procedure that involves the partial removal or reduction of the tonsils, aiming to address symptoms or conditions related to the tonsils while preserving their immune function to some extent.

2. Amygdalotomy; the cutting away of a portion of an hypertrophied faucial tonsil.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for TONSILLOTOMY

• ronsillotomy
• fonsillotomy
• gonsillotomy
• yonsillotomy
• 6onsillotomy
• 5onsillotomy
• tinsillotomy
• tknsillotomy
• tlnsillotomy
• tpnsillotomy
• t0nsillotomy
• t9nsillotomy
• tobsillotomy
• tomsillotomy
• tojsillotomy
• tohsillotomy
• tonaillotomy
• tonzillotomy
• tonxillotomy
• tondillotomy

Etymology of TONSILLOTOMY

The word "tonsillotomy" is derived from two root words: "tonsillo-" and "-tomy".

The first part, "tonsillo-", refers to the tonsils, which are two masses of lymphoid tissue located at the back of the throat. The term "tonsillo-" comes from the Latin word "tonsilla", meaning "tonsil" or "small projection".

The second part, "-tomy", is a suffix derived from the Greek word "tomḗ", meaning "cutting" or "incision". "-tomy" is commonly used to describe surgical procedures that involve cutting or incising a specific body part.

When combined, "tonsillo-" and "-tomy" create the word "tonsillotomy", which refers to the surgical removal or incision of the tonsils.

Plural form of TONSILLOTOMY is TONSILLOTOMIES