It is used in medical terms to describe a surgical procedure that creates a new opening in a body part. For example:
* Colostomy: Surgical creation of an opening in the colon (large intestine).
* Tracheostomy: Surgical creation of an opening in the trachea (windpipe).
* Ileostomy: Surgical creation of an opening in the ileum (part of the small intestine).
Essentially, "-ostomy" indicates a procedure where a surgeon makes a new passage for fluids, waste, or air to flow.