laparotomy

Term: laparotomy

Literally meaning: “ incision into soft material”

Origin: Anc Greek

λαπάρα/lapara(=belly, flank) > λάπαρις/laparis(=soft)

+τομή/tomi(=incision)

Coined/History

 The term was coined initially as "laparothorakoskopie" by Swedish internist  Hans Christian Jacobaeus (1879-1937) after using this surgical proscedure   on the thorax and abdomen.

Sources

Vecchio R, Macfayden BV, Palazzo F. History of laparoscopic surgery. Panminerva Med. 2000;42:87–90

Definition

The surgical incision into the abdominal wall for access to abdominal cavity. 

Comment

An alternative to laparatomy is laparoscopy