Which of the following procedures involves the removal of an intra-abdominal organ?

The procedure that involves the removal of an intra-abdominal organ among the options provided is splenectomy. A splenectomy is specifically the surgical removal of the spleen, an organ located in the upper left abdomen that plays a key role in filtering blood and supporting the immune system.

While the other procedures listed also involve surgery, they target different organs or systems. A hysterectomy removes the uterus, which is not an intra-abdominal organ, as it is part of the reproductive system primarily located within the pelvic cavity. A cholecystectomy involves the removal of the gallbladder, which, although situated in the abdominal cavity, is typically considered part of the biliary system related to digestion rather than a core intra-abdominal organ. An appendectomy focuses on the removal of the appendix, which is attached to the large intestine but is also not classified as a major intra-abdominal organ in the same context as the spleen.

Understanding the specific roles and locations of these organs helps clarify why splenectomy is the most appropriate answer to the question, as it directly involves the removal of a primary organ within the abdominal cavity.