Arteriotomy (or arterotomy) is a medical term for an opening or cut of an artery wall.
[1] It is a common step in many vascular surgical procedures and operations.
The corresponding term for an incision into a vein is a venotomy.
Either a transverse or a longitudinal incision can be made (with respect to the direction of the artery), depending on the situation.
The incision is typically made with a scalpel and extended with surgical scissors.