Medical Terminology Daily (MTD) is a blog sponsored by Clinical Anatomy Associates, Inc. as a service to the medical community. We post anatomical, medical or surgical terms, their meaning and usage, as well as biographical notes on anatomists, surgeons, and researchers through the ages. Be warned that some of the images used depict human anatomical specimens.

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A Moment in History

Jean-Louis Petit

Jean Louis Petit
(1674 – 1750)

French surgeon and anatomist, Jean Louis Petit was born in Paris in on March 13, 1674.  His family rented an apartment at his house to Alexis Littre (1658 – 1726), a French anatomist. Petit became an apprentice of Littre at seven years of age, helping him in the dissections for his lectures and at an early age became the assistant in charge of the anatomic amphitheater.

Because of Petit’s dedication to anatomy and medicine, in 1690 at the age of sixteen, became a disciple of a famous Paris surgeon, Castel.

In 1692, Petit entered the French army and performed surgery in two military campaigns. By 1693 he started delivering lectures and was accepted as a great surgeon, being invited to the most difficult operations.  In 1700 he was appointed Chief Surgeon of the Military School in Paris and in the same year he received the degree of Master of Surgery from the Faculty of Paris.

In 1715 he was made a member of the Royal Academy of Sciences and an honorary member of the Royal Society of London. He was appointed by the King as the first Director General of the Royal Academy of Surgery when it was founded in 1731.

Petit’s written works are of historical importance.  “Traite des Maladies des Os” ( A Treatise on Bone Diseases);  “Traite des Maladies Chirurgicales et des Operation” (A Treatise on Surgical Diseases and their Operations” This last book was published posthumously in 1774. He also published a monograph on hemorrhage, another on lachrymal fistula, and others.

He was one of the first to perform choIecystotomy and mastoidotomy. His original tourniquet design for amputations saved many in the battlefield and the design of the same surgical instrument today has not changed much since its invention by him.

His name is remembered in the lumbar triangle, also called the "triangle of Petit", and the abdominal hernia that can ensue through that area of weakness, the lumbar hernia or "Petit's hernia".

Sources:
1. “Jean Louis Petit – A Sketch of his Life, Character, and Writings” Hayne, AP San Fran Western Lancet 1875 4: 446-454
2. “Oeuvres compl?tes de Jean-Louis Petit” 1837 Imprimerie de F. Chapoulaud
3. Extraits de l'eloge de Jean-Louis Petit Ius dans Ia seance publique de I' Academie royale de chirurgie du 26 mai 1750” Louis A. Chirurgie 2001: 126 : 475- 81


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Cardiac muscle

Cardiac muscle (Dr. S. Girod, A. Becker)
Histology image of cardiac muscle*

[UPDATED] Cardiac muscle is one of the three types of muscle found in the human body. It is found exclusively in the heart, where it forms the main component of its middle layer, the myocardium.  

[Myo]=combining form for "muscle"; [-card-]=heart; and [-ium]=layer or membrane. The myocardium is the muscle layer of the heart.

Cardiac muscle has distinct striations and intercalated discs (see accompanying image). The cardiac muscle acts as a functional syncytium

The key characteristic of cardiac muscle is automatism or automaticity, its capacity to contract rhythmically in the absence of an external electrical stimulus. The other two types of muscle (smooth and skeletal) lack this characteristic.

The term [cardiomyocyte] can be used to describe each of these cells as the word is composed of [Card(i)o=combining form for "heart"; [myo]=combining form for "muscle"; and the suffix [-cyte]= cell. A cardiomyocyte is a cardiac muscle cell.

One of the components of the conduction system of the heart is made exclusively of cardiomyocytes.

cardiac cell showing automatic contractions

 Image modified from the original on YouTube from the British Heart Foundation.

* Original histology image by S, Girod and A. Becker, courtesy of Wikipedia. 


-card- / -cordi-

Heart
Anterior view of the heart*

[UPDATED] These two root terms mean "heart".

The first one, [-card(i)-] arises from the Greek [καρδιά] pronounced kardiá, and can be seen in medical words such as: cardiac, echocardiogram, cineangiocardiogram, cardioplegia, myocardial infarction, etc.

The second one [-cord(i)-] arises from the Latin [cor] or [cordis] and can be seen in words such as: precordial pain, cordial, commotio cordis, etc. 

As a point of interest, the original Greek spelling of [kardium]  was used by Nobel prize winner Dr. Willem Einthoven (1860 - 1927) when he invented the electrocardiograph and the electrocardiogram. The German term is [elektrokardiogramm] and the German abbreviation for the procedure is EKG. Since we use the term in English, [electrocardiogram] we use the abbreviation ECG. Both are correct, although if you are speaking English, ECG should be used.

* Image property of:CAA.Inc.Artist:Victoria G. Ratcliffe


Pampiniform

vine tendril
Vine tendril. Image courtesy of Jon Sullivan

 

The term [pampiniform] comes from the Latin term [pampinus] meaning "a vine tendril". It refers to a twisted, curved structure as seen in the accompanying image.  The second portion of the word also comes from Latin, [forma] means "shape" or "in the shape of".

Pampiniform then means "in or with the shape of a vine tendril"

Although mostly associated with the pampiniform plexuses found in both the testicular veins in the spermatic cord and the ovarian veins found within the infundibulopelvic ligament, the term is also used to denote the coiled aspect of the organ of Rosenmuller, also known as the pampiniform body or paraovarium.

The pampiniform body is a non-functional embryological remnant of the development of the female reproductive system. It is composed of a blind longitudinal duct and 10-15 transverse smaller ducts. It is located in the mesosalpinx, an extension of the broad ligament related to the uterine tube (Fallopian tube).

Thanks to David Van Tol for suggesting this article!

Image courtesy of Jon Sullivan, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons https://jonsullivan.com/


Plexus

Brachial plexus (www.bartleby.com)
Brachial plexus

UPDATED: The term [plexus] comes from the Latin term [plectere] meaning " to twine, or to braid". In anatomy, the term [plexus] refers to a group of structures that are intertwined or form a meshwork.  The plural form is [plexuses], although the Latin plural form [plexi] is also correct. Gabrielle Fallopius used the term to denote "a tangle of nerves"

There are many plexuses described in the human body. Most are formed by nerves, but there are many that are lymphatic or vascular. The best known are the plexuses of nerves formed by the ventral rami of the spinal nerves. These are the cervical plexus, the brachial plexus, the lumbar plexus, and the sacral plexus. The image depicts the brachial plexus. For a larger version, click on the image, and for further information on the cervical and brachial plexuses, click here

Images and links courtesy of:www.bartleby.com

 


Left Atrial Appendage

Left atrial appendage. Image modified from Gosling 1996
Left atrial appendage

The left atrial appendage (LAA) is an embryological remnant of the development of the heart. It represents the primitive left atrium (LA) which is then “pushed to the side” by the development of the final (adult) stage of the LA. While the LAA is thin, tubular, tortuous, and presents with convoluted muscular walls, the adult LA has smooth walls and is considered to be a dilation of the terminal portion of the veins that enter the LA, hence the name “sinus venarum”, another term for the atria. The LAA is also known as the "left atrial appendix", or the "left auricle".

The anatomy of the LAA is presented in the video included at the end of the article, but there are some details that are important to discuss in the involvement of the LAA in the creation of thrombi and emboli in the presence of atrial fibrillation (AFib).

LAA shape and size

The LAA has important anatomical variations, with different shapes that anatomists and physicians have tried to consolidate in groups such as: chicken wing, cactus, windsock, cauliflower, etc. The fact is that recording the shape of the LAA is subjective. as the evaluation depends completely on the observer.

Researchers have tried to determine what shape can lead to a higher potential for stroke-producing emboli when AFib is present. A recent study by Dudzińska-Szczerba (2021) and an editorial by Yong Shin (2021) states that the shape itself is not a good predictor, but the distance between the LAA ostium and the first bend of the LAA is indeed a good predictor. The longer the distance there is increased potential for thrombus and emboli formation.

The size of the LAA has been studied in detail and it ranges ranging from 0.3 cm to 2.0 cm in males, and 0.3 to 1.8 cm in females. (Venoit, 1997), as shown in this table.

LAA Venoit 97

The LAA ostium

The LAA ostium is the communication between the LA and the LAA, it is generally oval in shape and its size is variable. The ostium is in some cases slit-like, or an elliptical-shaped variant, “smiley”, and even small circular (DeSimone, 2015; Cabrera, 2014). A study by Wang (2010) classified the LAA ostium into five types: oval (68.9%), foot-like (10%), triangular (7.7%), water drop-like (7.7%), and round (5.7%). It is interesting that devices that are used to occlude the LAA ostium are round and that is only 6% of the population reported in the Wang (2010) study. In a study by Su (2006) it was found that 100% of the specimens studied the LAA ostium had an oval shape with the mean diameter of the opening of 17.4 mm with a range between 10-24.1 mm).

In reference to LAA ostium occluders Su (2006) states that "These percutaneous devices / systems,however, have a round shape to fill or cover the LAA ostium. A previous study and our study show that the shape of the LAA ostium is consistently elliptical rather than round. This suggests that to seal the LAA orifice adequately without oversizing, devices may need to be elliptical for a snug fit. A round implant over an oval-shaped orifice may leave crevices on either side of the implant, leading to incomplete sealing of the orifice."

Lobes

The LAA can also present with different dilations called “lobes” these can range from zero to three or four.

Muscular Wall Structure

Cow heart left atrial appendage trabeculations
Cow LAA internal structure

The LAA has internal ridges that form a muscular meshwork. The term used to describe these is “trabeculated”. It makes sense that in the case of atrial fibrillation, the slow to non-existent flow of blood within the deep recesses of the trabeculated muscular wall of the LAA will cause blood to pool and coagulate, forming thrombi. The presence of these LAA trabeculations have been found to be associated with stroke risk by Dudzińska-Szczerba (2021). The accompanying image shows the trabeculations in a cow's LAA. They are not as deep or as convoluted as those found in a human heart.

Crenellations

This is a rarely used term. It is a pattern along the top of a fortified wall, as in a castle, forming multiple, regular, rectangular spaces. These crenellations are found in the edge of the LAA compounding the irregularity of the wall and increasing the chance for thrombus formation and stroke-inducing thrombi. Crenellations are shown by yellow triangles in the first image in this article.

Function of the LAA

As stated, the LAA is an embryological remnant, but it does have a function in the adult. It generates a peptide involved in the control of salt in the circulatory system. This is the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), a hormone that is secreted by both  the right and left atria and their appendages in response to circulatory volume and pressure changes. ANP helps the elimination of excess sodium through the kidneys (natriuresis), control of urine elimination (diuresis), and antifibrotic and antihypertrophic effects within the heart (Sandeur, 2023)

While removing both the right and left atrial appendages could cause ANP deficiency, surgical removal or exclusion of only the LAA does not cause an ANP problem (8).

Involvement of the LAA in AFib

The LAA is an electrically active structure. The cardiomyocytes that form its walls have automatic activity and it has been described as an area that can trigger AFib. The accompanying video shows an LAA that has been separated from the heart (in this case using a surgical stapler) and it can be seen how the LAA continues fibrillating on its own. Video courtesy of Dr. Randall K. Wolf



This is the why LAA exclusion is a must in the case of AFib and potentially in any cardiovascular procedure where the pericardial sac is opened (this is a subject for discussion). The problem is that devices that only occlude the LAA ostium do not disconnect the LAA wall from the LA wall, leaving this potential AFib-producing connection intact.

A future article on abnormally large LAA and LAA aneurysms is forthcoming.

Sources:

1. “Anatomy of the Normal Left Atrial Appendage: A Quantitative Study of Age-Related Changes in 500 Autopsy Hearts: Implications for Echocardiographic Examination” Veinot, JP; et al. 1997 Circulation; 96:3112–3115
2. “A Review of the Relevant Embryology, Pathohistology, and Anatomy of the Left Atrial Appendage for the Invasive Cardiac Electrophysiologist” De Simone, CV, et al. J AFib 2015; 8:2 81-87
3. “Left atrial appendage: anatomy and imaging landmarks pertinent to percutaneous transcatheter occlusion” Cabrera,JA; Saremi, F; Sanchez-Quintana, D. 2014 Heart 2014 100:1636-1650
4. Left Atrial Appendage Studied by Computed Tomography to Help Planning for Appendage Closure Device Placement” Wang Y. et al. J Cardiovasc Electrophyisiol 2010 21:9 973-982
5. Is the Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) anatomical shape really meaninglessmeasure for stroke risk assessment?
6. “Assessment of the left atrial appendage morphology in patients after ischemic stroke” Dudzińska-Szczerba, K. et al. Int J Cardiol 2021 330:65-72
7. “Atrial Natriuretic Peptide” Sandeur, CC; Jialal, I. Stat Pearls 2023. StatPearls https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562257/
8. Personal communication, Dr. R. Wolf 2023
9. "Slide Atlas of Human Anatomy" Gosling, J.A.; Whitmore, I; Harris, P.F.; Humpherson, J.R., Et al; ISBN: 0723426570 Hong Kong: Times Mirror, 1996
10. "Atrial and brain natriuretic peptides: Hormones secreted from the heart" Nakagawa Y, Nishikimi T, Kuwahara K.  Peptides. 2019 Jan;111:18-25.
11. "Occluding the left atrial appendage: anatomical considerations" Su, P; McCarthy, KP; Ho, SY. 2008 Heart 94:1166–1170

Personal note: In November 7, 2023 Dr. Randall K. Wolf invited me to a seminar where we reviewed the anatomy of the left atrial appendage, the problems it can cause in atrial fibrillation leading to stroke, and the reasons for its exclusion in AFib surgery. Dr. Miranda.


Diastole

Normal electrocardiogram - sinus rhythm
Sinus rhythm electrocardiogram

A contraction, from the Greek [διαστολη] (systolí) meaning “expansion, dilation, drawing out, or prolongation”, also [διαστέλλειν] (diastéllein) meaning “to open, expansion”. When used in music, it means "a pause".

It refers to the dilation of the heart. If you analyze a normal heartbeat (sinus rhythm), there are two diastoles: an atrial diastole and a ventricular diastole. The term diastoleis usually used in reference to the ventricular diastole.

Diastole was first recognized and named by Herophilus of Alexandria (325-255BC), most probably trough animal vivisection. Herophilus was accused of animal vivisection and the dissection of human cadavers. Because of this, some call Herophilus "The Father of Anatomy".

Galen of Pergamon (129AD - 200AD) used the term [διαστέλλεσθαι] (diastéllesthai), also meaning “expansion”.

The word in English was first used in the 16th century. The modern pronunciation in English follows the Greek pronunciation by ending the word in a long “e” as in “to be”.

Sources
1. "The Origin of Medical Terms" Skinner, HA 1970 Hafner Publishing Co.
2. "Medical Meanings - A Glossary of Word Origins" Haubrich, WD. ACP Philadelphia
3. "Dorlands's Illustrated Medical Dictionary" 26th Ed. W.B. Saunders 1994
4. "Greek anatomist Herophilus: the father of anatomy" Si-Yang, N. Anat Cell Biol. 2010; 43(4): 280–283

Note: Google Translate includes the symbol (?). Clicking on it will allow you to hear the pronunciation of the word.