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Georg Eduard Von Rindfleisch
(1836 – 1908)
German pathologist and histologist of Bavarian nobility ancestry. Rindfleisch studied medicine in Würzburg, Berlin, and Heidelberg, earning his MD in 1859 with the thesis “De Vasorum Genesi” (on the generation of vessels) under the tutelage of Rudolf Virchow (1821 - 1902). He then continued as a assistant to Virchow in a newly founded institute in Berlin. He then moved to Breslau in 1861 as an assistant to Rudolf Heidenhain (1834–1897), becoming a professor of pathological anatomy. In 1865 he became full professor in Bonn and in 1874 in Würzburg, where a new pathological institute was built according to his design (completed in 1878), where he worked until his retirement in 1906.
He was the first to describe the inflammatory background of multiple sclerosis in 1863, when he noted that demyelinated lesions have in their center small vessels that are surrounded by a leukocyte inflammatory infiltrate.
After extensive investigations, he suspected an infectious origin of tuberculosis - even before Robert Koch's detection of the tuberculosis bacillus in 1892. Rindfleisch 's special achievement is the description of the morphologically conspicuous macrophages in typhoid inflammation. His distinction between myocardial infarction and myocarditis in 1890 is also of lasting importance.
Associated eponyms
"Rindfleisch's folds": Usually a single semilunar fold of the serous surface of the pericardium around the origin of the aorta. Also known as the plica semilunaris aortæ.
"Rindfleisch's cells": Historical (and obsolete) name for eosinophilic leukocytes.
Personal note: G. Rindfleisch’s book “Traité D' Histologie Pathologique” 2nd edition (1873) is now part of my library. This book was translated from German to French by Dr. Frédéric Gross (1844-1927) , Associate Professor of the Medicine Faculty in Nancy, France. The book is dedicated to Dr. Theodore Billroth (1829-1894), an important surgeon whose pioneering work on subtotal gastrectomies paved the way for today’s robotic bariatric surgery. Dr. Miranda.
Sources:
1. "Stedmans Medical Eponyms" Forbis, P.; Bartolucci, SL; 1998 Williams and Wilkins
2. "Rindfleisch, Georg Eduard von (bayerischer Adel?)" Deutsche Biographie
3. "The pathology of multiple sclerosis and its evolution" Lassmann H. (1999) Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 354 (1390): 1635–40.
4. “Traité D' Histologie Pathologique” G.E.
Rindfleisch 2nd Ed (1873) Ballieres et Fils. Paris, Translated by F Gross
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Anatomy: The term [aortopulmonary window] is a radiological term that refers to a small space in the left mediastinal region. It is bounded anteriorly by the ascending aorta, posteriorly by the descending aorta, superiorly by the aortic arch, inferiorly by the left pulmonary artery, medially by the arterial ligament [ligamentum arteriosum] and left main bronchus, and laterally by the pleura and left lung. It contents the recurrent laryngeal nerve, lymph nodes, and adipose tissue.
Clinical: The aortopulmonary window is commonplace for lymphadenopathy in various inflammatory and neoplastic diseases.
Radiology: In a frontal projection, it corresponds to a focal concavity on the left border of the mediastinum, inferior to the aorta and superior to the left pulmonary artery. In the lateral projection (which is the proper image to identify this area), it is seen as a radiolucency inferior to the aortic arch and superior to the left pulmonary artery. Its appearance can be modified by tortuosity of the aorta.
Congenital heart disease: This term also refers to a congenital heart disease similar in appearance to patent ductus arteriosus, (or truncus arteriosus) with the difference that this involves septal defect. It is described as a communication between the ascending aorta and pulmonary trunk portion or right pulmonary artery. It is a rare anomaly that represents 0.2% -0.6% of congenital cardiac abnormalities.
Sources:
1. Heitzman ER. The infraaortic area. In: The mediastinum: With correlations radiologic anatomy and pathology. Berlin, Germany: Springer-Verlag, 1988; 151: -168.
2. Blank N, Castellino RA. Patterns of pleural reflections of the left upper mediastinum: Normal anatomy and distortions produced by adenopathy. Radiology 1972; 102: 585-589.
3. Marc Dewey, Donna Magid, Paul S. Wheeler and Bernd Hamm aortopulmonary Angle Window or on the Chest Radiograph? American Journal of Roentgenology. 2004; 182: 1085-1086.
4. SY Ho, Gerlis LM, Anderson C, Devine WA, Smith A. The morphology of aortopulmonary windows With regard to their classification and morphogenesis. Young Cardiol 1994; 4: 146-55.
5. Kutsche LM, Van Mierop LHS. Anatomy and pathogenesis of aorticopulmonary septal defect. Am J Cardiol 1987; 59: 443-7.
6. Stevenson, Roger E .; Hall, Judith G. (2006). Human malformations and related anomalies. Oxford University Press US. pp. 119-. ISBN 978-0-19-516568-5
7. Donoghue, Veronica B .; Bj?rnstad, Per G. Radiological Imaging of the Neonatal Chest. Springer. pp. 330-. ISBN 978-3-540-33748-5.
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Anatomy:[Hilum] is a generic term which names area of an organ where all the structures that enter or leave the organ are found. In the lung it is depression in the mediastinal surface of the lung through which the vessels and bronchi enter and leave the lungs. This set of structures corresponds to the “root of the lung” or “pulmonary pedicle”. The term has a singular form, [hilum]; and a plural form, [hila]; the adjectival form is [hilar]. Radiographs and CAT Scan: The hilum appears as a composite opacity at the root of each lung produced by bronchi, arteries, veins, lymph nodes, nerves ,and other tissues. Sources: |
 AP thoracic x-ray image showing the pulmonary hilum |
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We would like to welcome Professor Cristián Uribe as a contributor to Medical Terminology Daily.
Prof. Uribe is a Physical Therapist, has a Masters in Human Anatomy and is a Professor in the Human Anatomy Department of the Medical School at the University Finis Terrae in Santiago, Chile.
Prof. Uribe is also the Director of the Postgraduate Course on “Anatomical Bases of Normal Imaging”, as well as the Executive Secretary of the Postgraduate Office at the same University.
He published the book “Eponyms in Anatomical Nomenclature” (2011, Ed. U. Finis Terrae). For his LinkedIn page click here.
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The [valve of the inferior vena cava] is probably better known by its eponym, the [Eustachian valve]. This is an incomplete valve found at the most distal end of the inferior vena cava, at the point where it opens into the right atrium of the heart. The valve is muscular at its base and composed mostly by membranous endocardium, and is normally the only valve present in the inferior vena cava.
It appears as a membranous semilunar fold extending posteriorly from the limbus fossa ovalis, anterior to the inferior caval orifice where it disappears. Its free border is usually membranous, concave, and directed anterosuperiorly. Its base is a transverse muscular ridge continuous with the anterior margin of the caval orifice.
It has no function in the adult, but in the fetus it helps to divert the flow of blood coming from the inferior vena cava towards the foramen ovale [fossa ovalis], as part of fetal circulation.
It has great anatomical variation in size, shape and thickness. On its medial aspect it joins with the Thebesian valve at the orifice of the coronary sinus.
First described by Bartolomeo Eustachius (c1500 - 1574) in 1653, the existence of the valve of the inferior vena cava was disputed by many until Winslow in 1717 confirmed its presence and suggested its function in fetal circulation.
Sources:
1. "The Valve of the Inferior Vena Cava" Hickie, JB Br Heart J. 1956 Jul; 18(3): 320–326
2. "Bartolommeo Eustachio; a great medical genius whose masterpiece remained hidden for 150 years" Wells, WA Arch Otolaring (1925) 48: 58
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The medical word [dysphagia] arises from the suffix [dys-] which means "abnormal", the root term [phag-] which arises from the Greek [φάγος] (phagos), meaning "to swallow", a "glutton" or "eating much", and the suffix [-ia] meaning "condition". The word dysphagia then means "a condition of abnormal swallowing".
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This article is part of the series "A Moment in History" where we honor those who have contributed to the growth of medical knowledge in the areas of anatomy, medicine, surgery, and medical research.
Bartolomeo Eustachius
Bartolomeo Eustachius (c1500 - 1574) Italian physician and anatomist, also known as Bartholomew Eustachius, Esutachi, and e was born in the small town of San Severino Marche, in the province of Macerata, central Italy. His father was a respected physician, and may have attended as a student the University of Sapienza, where he later taught as a professor of practical medicine. Eustachius’ life is mostly unknown and some of his works remained hidden for over 150 years. His birth date is only an estimate and data varies from c1500 AD to c1510 AD.
It is known that Eustachius lived and worked in Rome from 1549 to 1574. He was both an anatomist and a physician to the Vatican. As an anatomist, Eustachius is credited for having been the first to prepare anatomical images for printing using copper plates.
As a hospital physician, Eustachius was adamant on the need of autopsies on patients who died at the hospital, crediting him with being one of the first pathological anatomists.
Eustachius’ is credited with several anatomical discoveries, which he published in short monographs, on topics like the kidneys, the suprarenal glands (which he was the first to describe), the movements of the head, the azygos vein, etc. One of these was entirely dedicated to dentistry, “Libellus de Dentibus”, which have led to some to call Eustachius “The Father of Dental Anatomy”.
Eustachius dedicated himself to prepare a number of anatomical copper plates, apparently getting ready to publish a book to rival Vesalius’ “Fabrica”. It is known that Eustachius disliked Vesalius because of Vesalius’ contempt for the teachings of Galen. Eustachius died before completing his work and the copper plates were forgotten for over a century. After being rediscovered, these plates were published with commentaries by anatomists, until a final publication in Latin by Bernard Siegfried Albinus (1697 – 1770) entitled “Explicatio Tabularum Anatomicarum Bartholomaei Eustachii Anatomici Summi” (An explanation of the Anatomical Picture of Bartholomew Eustachius, Supreme Anatomist”.
Besides the suprarenal gland, Eustachius is credited for having discovered the stapes, the tensor tympani muscle, the valve of the inferior vena cava, the cervical sympathetic chain and the thoracic duct.
Interesting note: Eustachius’ assistant Petrus Matthaeus Pinus, who helped develop the copper plates, voiced his master’s dislike of Vesalius in a poem that was published by Albinus over a hundred years after the death of all of them, it is also an epitaph for a great anatomist:
“Just as the Master from Pergamon (Galen)
Teaching his method of healing, once refuted
The false writings of the ignorant Thessalus,
So also my BARTOLO (Eustachius)
Teaching his method of denoting every detail, position,
Shape, structure, order, number and condition
Has repulsed the shameless arrogance and claims
Of the impudent Vesalius
To him (Eustachius) all future generations
Adhere In reverential admiration
The age to come will envy us on account of you Father,
And historians will wish they had lived sooner
They will extol our era, through you fortunate,
Lucky beyond measure"
Sources:
1. "The root of dental anatomy: a case for naming Eustachius the "Father of Dental Anatomy"" Bennett, G (2009) J Hist Dent (1089-6287), 57 (2) 85 -88
2. “The papal anatomist: Eustachius in renaissance Rome” Simpson, D, ANZ J Surg (2011) 81: (12)905 -910
3. “Bartholomeo Eustachio – The Third Man: Eustachius Published by Albinus” Fahrer, M. (2003) ANS J Surg; 73: 523- 528
4. "Bartolommeo Eustachio; a great medical genius whose masterpiece remained hidden for 150 years" Wells, WA Arch Otolaring (1925) 48: 58
Original image courtesy of: Wikimedia Commons.