Surgery (from the
cheirourgikē (composed of χείρ, "hand", and ἔργον, "work"), via , meaning "hand work") is an ancient
medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a
patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as
disease or
injury, to help improve bodily function or appearance or to repair unwanted ruptured areas (for example,
a perforated ear drum).