Which suffix denotes the act of cutting?

• A. Tomy
• B. To cut
• C. Incision
• D. Dissection

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is recognizing medical suffixes that describe actions. The suffix -tomy means cutting or making an incision. That makes it the best choice because it directly signals the act of cutting into or into an organ, as in gastrotomy (cutting into the stomach) or tracheotomy (cutting into the trachea). Other terms describe the result or the process rather than the act itself: incision is the actual cut made, dissection is the process of separating tissues, and “to cut” isn’t a suffix used to name a procedure. So -tomy is the suffix that denotes the act of cutting.