Study for the Certified Medical Assistant Exam with engaging quizzes and comprehensive review materials. Get ready for your certification with confidence and ease!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


Which of the following terms refers to "the surgical removal of the kidney"?

  1. Nephrectomy

  2. Hysterectomy

  3. Mastectomy

  4. Laminectomy

The correct answer is: Nephrectomy

Nephrectomy is the term that accurately describes the surgical removal of the kidney. This procedure may be necessary for various reasons, including kidney disease, tumors, or other conditions affecting kidney function. It involves excising one or both kidneys, depending on the medical necessity. The other terms relate to different surgical procedures: hysterectomy involves the removal of the uterus, mastectomy pertains to the removal of breast tissue, and laminectomy is a surgery that involves removing part of the vertebrae to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. Each of these terms is specific to different organs and conditions, underscoring the importance of understanding the vocabulary in surgical terminology to communicate effectively in a clinical setting.