What does the term '-opsy' refer to in medical terminology?

The term "-opsy" in medical terminology refers to "view." It is derived from the Greek word "opsis," which means sight or view. In the context of healthcare, the suffix is commonly used in terms such as "biopsy" (the removal and examination of tissue to view for disease) and "autopsy" (the examination of a body after death to view the cause of death). Thus, when "-opsy" is used, it indicates a procedure that allows a medical professional to view or examine something, which is essential for diagnosis and treatment. Understanding this term is crucial for medical assistants as they encounter it frequently in clinical practice.