SportsAugust 16, 2026

pyloroplasty

pie-LOR-uh-plas-tee

Definition

A surgical procedure used to widen the opening between the stomach and the small intestine to improve stomach emptying.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek 'pyloros' (gatekeeper) and 'plastos' (molded or shaped), referring to the pylorus, the valve that controls the passage of food from the stomach to the intestines.

In the news

The word is listed as an example of a specialized medical procedure alongside Tommy John surgery to illustrate how medical operations are often named after their developers.

Tommy John, Dodgers pitcher and medical pioneer, dies at 83

Read the full article ↗

Los Angeles Times

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