California Certifying Board for Medical Assistants (CCBMA) Practice Test 2025 – Comprehensive All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

The term that denotes "surgical removal" is "gastrectomy." This medical term specifically refers to the surgical procedure that involves the removal of part or all of the stomach. It is often performed in cases such as stomach cancer, severe ulcers, or obesity-related issues. The prefix "gastro-" refers to the stomach, and the suffix "-ectomy" is derived from the Greek word "ektomē," which means "to cut out" or "removal."

In contrast, endoscopy refers to a diagnostic procedure that allows doctors to view the inside of the body through a flexible tube with a camera, but it does not involve any surgical removal. Appendicitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the appendix, and while it often leads to surgery for removal of the appendix (appendectomy), it itself is not a surgical procedure. A biopsy is a diagnostic procedure that involves removing a small sample of tissue for examination, but it does not entail the removal of an entire organ or structure. Thus, gastrectomy is the most accurate choice that aligns with the definition of "surgical removal."