If a medical term ends with -plasty, what does it indicate?

• A. Surgical repair
• B. Suture
• C. Surgical puncture
• D. Surgical removal

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that the suffix -plasty signals a surgical repair or reconstruction, often involving reshaping a part to restore function. That’s why the best answer is surgical repair. You’ll see -plasty in terms like rhinoplasty (repair/reconstruction of the nose), arthroplasty (repair or replacement of a joint), and angioplasty (repairing or restoring the diameter of a blood vessel). This suffix doesn’t mean stitching, puncturing, or removal—those ideas are conveyed by other suffixes: suture or -rrhaphy for sewing, -centesis for puncture, and -ectomy for removal.