What is the common term for the medical procedure of removing a sample of tissue for diagnostic purposes?

The term "biopsy" is specifically used to describe the medical procedure where a sample of tissue is removed from a living organism for examination and diagnosis. This procedure is commonly employed to determine the presence or extent of diseases, particularly cancer. During a biopsy, the sample may be obtained through various methods, such as needle aspiration, endoscopy, or surgical excision, depending on the location and type of tissue being examined.

In contrast, the other terms refer to different surgical actions: "excision" typically involves the complete removal of a tissue or organ, "resection" is used to describe the removal of a part of an organ or structure, often during surgery for cancer, and "incision" refers to the act of cutting into tissue but does not denote the removal of tissue for diagnostic purposes. Thus, "biopsy" accurately captures the essence of obtaining tissue specifically for diagnostic analysis.