Final answer:
The suffix indicating separation, destruction, or loosening is '-lysis'. It is used in medical terms where there is the breaking down or destruction of elements, such as in 'hemolysis', the breakdown of red blood cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
The suffix that means separation, destruction, or loosening is -lysis. Each of the options provided corresponds to different medical procedures or concepts:
- -ectomy: This suffix signifies the surgical removal of a specific part of the body; for example, an appendectomy is the removal of the appendix.
- -lysis: This suffix indicates the destruction or breakdown of something, such as in hemolysis, which is the destruction of red blood cells.
- -plasty: This suffix refers to the molding, grafting, or formation of a body part, as seen in rhinoplasty, which is a surgical procedure to repair or reshape the nose.
- -tomy: This suffix denotes the act of cutting or making an incision, like in a tracheotomy, which is an incision in the windpipe to allow breathing.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question 'Which suffix means separation, destruction, loosening?' is b) -lysis.