'arthrolysis' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'arthron' (meaning 'joint') and 'lysis' (meaning 'loosening' or 'dissolution').

'arthron' + 'lysis' combined in New Latin/medical Neo-Latin to form 'arthrolysis,' which was adopted into modern English medical terminology as 'arthrolysis'.

Initially it meant 'loosening or dissolution of a joint' in a literal morphological sense; over time it has come to denote the specific surgical procedure of releasing joint adhesions.