Etymed
myotomy
Definition
surgical incision of a muscle
Clinical context
A 35-year-old patient presents with severe esophageal dysphagia and regurgitation of undigested food. Endoscopic examination reveals a narrowed esophageal segment with increased muscle tone. The patient undergoes a surgical procedure involving incision of the thickened esophageal muscle layer to relieve the obstruction. The postoperative course is uneventful with resolution of symptoms.
Mnemonic
MYOTOMY = MYO (muscle) + Tomy (incision) - think of 'cutting the muscle' to treat muscle spasms or obstructions