It is often used in medical terms to refer to surgical procedures that involve making an incision:
* Appendectomy: Removal of the appendix
* Tonsillectomy: Removal of the tonsils
* Tracheotomy: Making an incision in the trachea (windpipe)
* Lobotomy: Surgical procedure that severs connections in the brain (now considered outdated and unethical)
The suffix "-tomy" is derived from the Greek word "tome," which means "cut."