Final answer:
The surgical formation of a temporary opening in a joint for drainage purposes is called arthrotomy, which involves making an incision into the joint space.
Step-by-step explanation:
The surgical formation of a temporary opening in a joint for drainage purposes is called arthrotomy, which involves making an incision into the joint space. The medical term that describes the surgical formation of "a temporary opening in a joint" for drainage purposes is arthrotomy. An arthrotomy is a surgical procedure where an incision is made into a joint capsule in order to gain access to the joint space. This is typically done to address infections, to allow for the drainage of excessive fluids such as pus, or to perform diagnostic procedures. The term comes from 'arthro-', meaning joint, and '-tomy', meaning to cut or incise.