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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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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UPDATED: The word [anesthesia] is formed by the prefix [an-] meaning "without" or absence of", and the Greek root term [-esthesia-] meaning "sensation". Skinner (1970) mentions that the suffix [-ia] means "condition". Thus analyzed, the word [anesthesia] means "a condition of absence of sensation". The word was coined and first used by Oliver W. Holmes Sr. (1809 - 1894).
The search for an anesthetic agent that could alleviate pain and help surgery has ancient origins, potions, alcohol, and herbal remedies had been used until the discovery of nitrous oxide (laughing gas) first, and ether second. It was this latter element, pioneered by William T.G. Morton (1819–1868), that started a revolution in surgery.
In 1846 Morton working as the anesthetist helped a public demonstration of surgery at the Massachusetts General Hospital. This was the first use of anesthesia in surgery. The event was so important that drawings and paintings were made. See the accompanying image.
After this demonstration, research was continued and the anesthetic properties of many compounds were discovered, leading to modern anesthetics.
The operation took place on October 16, 1846, in the first operating room built at the Massachusetts General Hospital. This room has been preserved and is today known as the "Ether Dome". You can read an article on a visit I made to this historic place. Dr. Miranda
Original image (public domain) courtesy of "Images from the History of Medicine" at www.nih.gov
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UPDATED: The suffix [-esthesia] is Greek, arising from the word [αίσθηση] (a?sthi?si?) meaning "sensation". Some of the applications of the term are as follows:
Note: The links to Google Translate include an icon that will allow you to hear the Greek or Latin pronunciation of the word. |
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The term [ostium] is Latin and means "mouth" or "opening". The origin of the meaning of this term is debated and seems to come from the Latin term [os], meaning mouth. Latin derivatives of this term are [osculum] and [oscularetur]; "kiss" and "kissing", respectively. The plural form for ostium is [ostia]
There are several named ostia in the human body. An example is presented in the accompanying image, showing the ostium of the coronary sinus. Another example are the ostia of the coronary arteries found in the aortic valve (one of the semilunar valves)
Image property of: CAA.Inc.
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UPDATED: The brachiocephalic trunk (also known as the brachiocephalic artery) is the first branch that arises from the aortic arch. It is a short branch (1.2 - 1.5 cm in diameter and 2.8 - 3.5 cm in length)1 that ascends superiorly and to the right. It divides just posterior to the right sternoclavicular joint giving origin to the right common carotid artery and the right subclavian artery. The brachiocephalic trunk is a non-paired structure, as there is no contralateral homonymous structure. On the left side the left common carotid and the left subclavian arteries arise directly from the aortic arch.
The term brachiocephalic is mixed, formed by the Latin root [-brachi-] meaning "arm", the Greek root [-cephal-] meaning "head", the combining form '"o", and the adjectival suffix "ic". The brachiocephalic trunk provides oxygenated blood to the right side of the head and right upper extremity.
There is a common mistake perpetuated in many books. Many call this structure the "innominate artery". The term [innominate] means "without a name", and it does have one: brachiocephalic trunk. The aortic arch and its branches have many potential anatomical variations.
1. "Tratado de Anatomía Humana" Testut & Latarjet 8 Ed. 1943 Salvat Editores, Spain
Image property of: CAA.Inc.Artist: Victoria G. Ratcliffe
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UPDATED: The choroid plexuses are highly vascular structures situated in the ventricular system of the brain. They are formed by convoluted capillaries surrounded by modified ependymal cells. The choroid plexuses are responsible for the constant formation of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), as well as part of the blood-brain barrier, which in this case should probably be called the blood-CSF barrier.
The choroid plexuses are found in each ventricle of the brain. The accompanying image shows a dissection of a human brain where the frontal, parietal, and occipital lobes, as well as the corpus callosum have been removed to expose the lateral ventricles. The trigone has been transected and reflected posteriorly and the choroid plexuses can be seen as a cluster of grape-like longitudinal masses in each lateral ventricle.
Choroid plexuses form when three elements come in contact within the brain: pia mater, ependymal epithelium, and blood vessels. This only happens in the ventricular system of the brain.
The etymology (word origin) of the term [choroid] is a bit complicated. The suffix [-oid] means "similar to", while the root term [chor-] derives from the Greek word [χορίου] pronounced (joríu), meaning "dermis", "skin", or "membrane". The reason for the use of this term is that the Greek used the term "membrane" referring to the highly vascularized membranes that invest a fetus.
The term "plexus" means a "mesh", so the term [choroid plexuses] means "similar to the vascular membranes that invest a fetus"
Sources:
1. "Medical Meanings, A Glossary of Word Origins" Haubrich, W.S. 1997. American College of Physicians, Philadelphia, PA.
2. "Elementos de Neuroanatomia" Fernandez, J.; Miranda, EA.
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The term is formed by the prefix [ento- or -intu] from the Latin word [intus], meaning "within" and the Latin root term [-susscept-] meaning "to take, receive". In this usually intestinal pathology a proximal intestinal segment "pushes in" or is "taken in" by a distal segment. Because of adhesions or inflammation, an intestinal obstruction can ensue. This pathology can escalate causing localized ischemia and even necrosis with the potential of intestinal perforation. Intussuception is more prevalent in the ileocolic region and is the most common cause for intestinal obstruction in children aged 3 months to 6 years.
In an intussuscepted segment, there are two components: the intussusceptus (A), that is the proximal segment that protrudes into the distal segment; and the intussuscipiens (B), which is the distal segment, receiving the intussusceptus.
In the accompanying image, the arrow indicates direction of flow.
Image property of:CAA.Inc.Artist:Dr. Miranda