Which procedure is classified under the root operation of extirpation?

The procedure classified under the root operation of extirpation is lithotripsy. Extirpation refers to the removal or destruction of solid matter (such as stones) from a body part. Lithotripsy specifically involves the use of high-energy shock waves to break up kidney stones or stones in the urinary tract, allowing for their removal from the body. This aligns with the definition of extirpation, which entails the process of eliminating or completely taking out a material that is foreign or pathological in nature.

In contrast, the other procedures listed do not fit under the extirpation category:

• Hysterectomy involves the surgical removal of the uterus without the aspect of breaking down solid waste matter as part of its primary purpose.
• Cystoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that allows for visualization of the bladder and urethra using a scope, rather than removal or destruction of stones or other materials.
• Colonoscopy is primarily a diagnostic procedure for visual examination of the colon and may include biopsy or polypectomy but does not involve the specific destruction of solid material in the context defined by extirpation.

Thus, lithotripsy stands out as the only procedure that embodies the root operation of extirpation.