The root word of ‘hysterectomy’ is ‘hyster-‘, which comes from the Greek word ‘hystera’, meaning ‘uterus’ or ‘womb’. The suffix ‘-ectomy’ is derived from the Greek word ‘ektome’, meaning ‘to cut out’ or ‘excision’. Therefore, a hysterectomy refers to the surgical procedure of removing the uterus.
In summary, the term ‘hysterectomy’ directly relates to a surgical operation involving the uterus, highlighting both the organ affected and the nature of the procedure.