What is surgery?

Surgery (from the χειρουργική cheirourgikē (composed of χείρ hand and ἔργον work) via chirurgiae meaning hand work) is a medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate or treat a pathological condition such as a disease or injury to help improve bodily function or appearance or to repair unwanted ruptured areas. The act of performing surgery may be called a surgical procedure operation or simply surgery. In this context the verb operate means to perform surgery. The adjective surgical means pertaining to surgery; e.g. surgical instruments or surgical nurse.