Final answer:
A meatotomy is a surgical procedure involving an incision into the urinary meatus. It is typically performed by urologists to correct abnormalities like narrow urinary flow. It is distinct from procedures such as episiotomies, which are related to childbirth.
Step-by-step explanation:
Meatotomy is a surgical procedure involving the incision into the 'meatus', which is typically a reference to the urinary meatus in medical terminology. The meatotomy procedure is performed to enlarge the opening or to correct an abnormality, aiding in the relief of complications such as narrowed urinary flow caused by a stricture or other obstructions. This is not to be confused with other types of medical procedures such as an episiotomy, which involves an incision made in the posterior vaginal wall and perineum to facilitate vaginal birth, although both procedures involve incisions for treatment.
In essence, the term meatotomy can be broken down into 'meat/o', pertaining to the urinary meatus, and '-otomy', indicating an incision into or cutting operation. This type of procedure is of particular relevance to fields like urology, which deals with the urinary tract issues in both men and women.