It typically refers to a surgical procedure that creates an opening into a hollow organ or structure, often to divert the flow of bodily substances like urine or stool.
Here are some examples:
* Colostomy: An opening created in the colon.
* Ileostomy: An opening created in the ileum (part of the small intestine).
* Urostomy: An opening created in the urinary tract.
The combining form "-ostomy" is often used in combination with other prefixes and suffixes to create specific medical terms. For example, "colostomy" is formed by combining the prefix "colo-" (referring to the colon) with "-ostomy."