What term refers to a surgically created opening into a body part?

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The term that refers to a surgically created opening into a body part is "ostomy." An ostomy is a procedure where an artificial opening is created to allow for the passage of bodily fluids or wastes through the abdominal wall or another part of the body. This is commonly performed when there is a need to bypass parts of the gastrointestinal or urinary tract due to conditions like cancer, injury, or disease.

The focus of an ostomy is on the fact that it creates a permanent or semi-permanent opening—examples include colostomy, ileostomy, or urostomy, depending on the area of the body involved. This procedure allows for necessary changes to a patient's bodily functions while still maintaining a quality of life.

The other terms relate to surgical processes but do not specifically denote the creation of an opening. An incision is a cut made during surgery, a stoma is the actual opening created by an ostomy but does not include the surgical process itself, and a fistula is an abnormal connection between two organs or vessels that is usually not intended and often results from disease or injury rather than a planned surgical procedure.

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