What procedure involves the removal of the mammary gland?

The procedure that involves the removal of the mammary gland is known as a mastectomy. This surgical operation is commonly performed in cases of breast cancer or other diseases of the mammary tissue in both humans and animals. It typically entails the complete or partial removal of breast tissue, often as a preventive or treatment measure against malignancies.

Understanding the other procedures can help clarify why they do not relate to the removal of mammary glands. Nephrectomy refers to the surgical removal of a kidney, which is unrelated to mammary tissues. Appendectomy involves the removal of the appendix, typically due to appendicitis, again unrelated to the mammary glands. Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus, a procedure related to the reproductive system rather than the mammary glands. Therefore, mastectomy stands out as the procedure specifically associated with the mammary gland.