General surgery was named from the general skills and abilities of their practitioners who were able to operate in any anatomical area, on any condition.

With increasing specialisation, general surgeons have become specialist surgeons in disorders of the gastro-intestinal and glandular systems.

General surgery includes the sub-specialities of endocrine, breast, oesophago-gastric, hepato-pancreatico-biliary, colorectal, vascular, and transplantation surgery.