外科(surgery)
医学的一个分支学科，主要涉及需采物理手段而非仅用药物的治疗。除了需要涉入人体内部进行的手术外，外科也包括体外操作（诸如断骨接合或皮肤移植）。现代外科始於19世纪中叶麻醉药和抗生素的应用。其他方面重要的进展包括：影像诊断、血型分类、使用插管帮助呼吸、静脉输液和给药、心-肺呼吸机（参阅artificial heart）、内窥镜检查以及各种监视机体功能的仪表。用於外科手术的特殊器具还有：切割体内组织的手术刀、挤压血管使之关闭的止血钳和掌控各类组织器官的镊子、固定或挤压组织的夹具、用来吸液以保持手术区域乾燥的纱布绵拭、保持切口张开的牵开器以及缝合切口的弯针等。术前与术後的护理对外科手术的成功具有决定性的意义。亦请参阅microsurgery、open-heart surgery、orthopedics、plastic surgery、transplant。
English version：
surgery
Branch of medicine concerned with treatment by physical means rather than drugs. In addition to operations requiring access to the inside of the body (open surgery), it includes manipulation from outside the body (e.g., setting of a broken bone, skin grafts). Modern surgery began in the mid-19th century with use of anesthetics and antiseptics. Other important advances have included diagnostic imaging, blood typing, intubation to support breathing, intravenous administration of fluids and drugs, heart-lung machines (see artificial heart), endoscopy, and devices that monitor body functions. Specialized instruments used in surgery include scalpels to cut tissue, forceps to hold blood vessels closed or grasp and manipulate structures, clamps to immobilize or crush tissues, gauze sponges to absorb fluids and keep an area dry, retractors to hold incisions open, and curved needles to suture them closed. Pre- and postoperative care is crucial to the success of surgery. See also microsurgery, open-heart surgery, orthopedics, plastic surgery, transplant.