biopsy

Term: biopsy (n)

Literally meaning: "looking at life"

Origin: Anc Greek

βιο-/vio>bio-, combining form for “life” > βία/via(=rush)

+(-ψία) >όψις/opsis (= to look at, vision; sight)  

Coined/History

Definition

Biopsy is the procedure to remove from a living body a piece of tissue or  sample of cells in order to examine it for diagnostic purposes.