extirpáció

Extirpation is a term used in medicine and ecology to describe the removal or elimination of something from a particular place. In medicine it describes surgical removal of tissue, organ, or foreign material; in ecology it denotes the local disappearance of a species from a defined geographic area, while the species may persist elsewhere.

In medical use, extirpation refers to the complete removal of diseased tissue or an entire organ or region. It is often contrasted with partial resection or biopsy. Examples include extirpation of a tumor or a diseased gland. In modern practice, many such procedures use more specific terms (for example, excision, colectomy, or splenectomy), but extirpation remains in historical and some clinical contexts. Potential risks include bleeding, infection, and loss of function; alternatives include conservative therapy or targeted ablation.

In ecological use, extirpation refers to the local elimination of a species from a region, such as a country or ecosystem type. This can result from habitat destruction, overhunting, pollution, climate change, or invasive species. Extirpation is not global extinction; the species may survive elsewhere. Recovery may occur through natural re-colonization or deliberate reintroduction, though success depends on habitat availability and genetic factors. Cases include historically beaver extirpations in parts of North America or the European bison's local extirpation in some regions.

Etymology: the term derives from Latin exstirpāre, meaning “to uproot” or “to root out.”