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.
You are welcome to submit questions and suggestions using our "Contact Us" form. The information on this blog follows the terms on our "Privacy and Security Statement" and cannot be construed as medical guidance or instructions for treatment.
We have 617 guests online
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
"Clinical Anatomy Associates, Inc., and the contributors of "Medical Terminology Daily" wish to thank all individuals who donate their bodies and tissues for the advancement of education and research”.
Click here for more information
- Details
This term describes a structure that is composed of a multinucleated cytoplasm. It is either the result of the fusion of multiple adjoining cells, or the formation (by division) of multiple nuclei in a large cell.
Since cardiac muscle is formed by separate cells that are anatomically, mechanically, chemically, and electrically connected, the cardiac muscle has been called a "functional syncytium". Functionally, cardiac muscle works as a unit.
For those interested in the etymology of the word [syncytium], it arises from the Greek and its components are the prefix [syn-], meaning "together"; the root term [-cyt-], meaning "cell"; and the suffix [-ium], meaning "layer" or "membrane"
- Details
The root terms [-hem-] and [-hemat-] are both derivate from the Greek word [αίμα] (a?ma) meaning "blood". The same word and meaning applies to the suffix [-emia-]. Applications of these root terms include:
- Hematuria: The suffix [-uria] means "related to urine", or "urine". Refers to a condition where there is detectable blood in the urine
- Hematoma: The suffix [-oma] means "mass", "growth: or "tumor". A mass of blood that usually forms after trauma, a welt.
- Hemangioma: The root term [-angi-] means "vessel". The suffix [-oma] means "mass", "growth: or "tumor". A mass or a growth of blood vessels
Note: The links to Google Translate include an icon that will allow you to hear the Greek or Latin pronunciation of the word.
- Details
From the movie "Short Circuit" (1986):
Howard Marner: "Crosby, we're going to have to ask you to surrender the robot"
Newton Crosby: "Stat?"
Howard Marner: "Stat!"
Newton Crosby: "What does that mean, anyway?"
Howard Marner: "I don't know. But that's not the point"
The medical term [stat] arises from the Latin [statim] which means "immediately". By use and later abbreviation it has become [stat] with the same meaning. The term has somehow become overused in movie and television medical dramas with many people not knowing its meaning or etymology.
Note: The links to Google Translate include an icon that will allow you to hear the Greek or Latin pronunciation of the word.
- Details
Click for a larger image
UPDATED: This is a medical word that originates from Greek roots. The word [pathos] meaning "disease", and the word [γνωμο] (gnomos) or [gnomonikos] meaning "opinion", "judge" or "someone fit to judge". The word [pathognomonic] refers to a symptom, a sign, or a combination that, by its presence, defines or diagnoses a specific pathology or condition.
Most pathognomonic diagnoses are attained by a combination of symptoms and signs. Single pathognomonic events are not common. An example would be the presence of Koplik's spots in the buccal mucosa close to the exit of the parotid duct which are pathognomonic for measles. Koplik's spots (named after Dr. Henry Koplik) are small white spots with a reddish background. In addition to this location, Koplik's spots can be found occasionally on the conjunctiva, vaginal mucosa, or gastrointestinal mucosa1.
Sources:
1. Steichen, O., & Dautheville, S. (2009). Koplik spots in early measles. Can Med Assoc J 180 (5), 583
2. Koplik H. The diagnosis of the invasion of measles from a study of the exanthema as it appears on the buccal mucous membrane. Arch Pediatr 1896;13:918-22.
3. "Despedir al Sarampion" Article in Spanish by Dr. Luis Vasta.
- Details
Click for a larger image
The [proper hepatic artery], also known as the [hepatic artery proper] is the continuation of the common hepatic artery after the branching of the gastroduodenal artery. The proper hepatic artery is between 1.5 to 2.3 cm in length and close to 5mm in diameter.
It ascends superiorly, anterior to the portal vein and to the left of the common bile duct and hepatic duct. These three structures, arterial, venous, and bliliary, form the portal triad. The portal triad is found between the two layers of the lesser omentum.
The proper hepatic artery ends when it bifurcates giving origin to the left and right hepatic arteries.For more information on anatomical variations of the celiac trunk and the proper hepatic artery click here.
The image shows an anteroinferior view of the liver and stomach, the duodenum and stomach are reflected anteriorly. CT= Celiac trunk, CHA= Common hepatic artery, PHA= Proper hepatic artery, GDA= Gastroduodenal artery
Sources:
1. "Gray's Anatomy"38th British Ed. Churchill Livingstone 1995
2. "Tratado de Anatomia Humana" Testut et Latarjet 8 Ed. 1931 Salvat Editores, Spain
3. "Variations of hepatic artery: anatomical study on cadavers" Sebben, GA et al Rev. Col. Bras. Cir. 40:3 May/June 2013
- Details
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.
Jean-Francois Calot (1861 – 1944)
Jean-Francois Calot (1861 – 1944). French physician and anatomist, Jean-Francois Calot was born in Arrens-Marsous, a small farming community of the Hautes-Pyrénées. He received his bachelor degree in 1880 at Saint-Pe de Bigorre, and then continued to study Medicine at the University of Paris, where he worked as an anatomy prosector. His doctoral thesis “De La Cholecystectomie” (On Cholecystectomy) was published in 1890 and republished in 1891.
Although his main interest laid in orthopedics and tuberculosis, Calot’s name is eponymically tied to an anatomical landmark described in his thesis, the “Triangle of Calot”, a triangular area that includes the biliary ducts associated with the gallbladder and the vascular supply to the gallbladder. This is an important region because of the high number of anatomical variations found in the area.
There is a discrepancy between the original description of this triangular region by Calot and what is used today. For more information, click on this link to read more on the “Triangle of Calot”, also known as the “cystohepatic triangle”.
During his medical career Calot worked at several French hospitals including the Rothschild hospital where he became Chief of Surgery. He was also the Chief of Surgery for the Cazin-Perrochaud Hospital, and the Orthopedic Institute of Berck-sur-Mer
Dr. Jean-Francois Calot and
the treatment of Pott's disease
During his orthopedic career Calot published many books “Chirurgie et orthopédie de guerre”, “Les maladies qu'on soigne á Berck”, “Berck et ses traitements : les raisons de sa supériorit?”, but his opus magnus is the book “« L'orthopédie indispensable aux praticiens” (Indispensable orthopedics for practitioners).
Calot is also known for his treatment of tuberculotic abscesses, and a conservative approach to musculoskeletal tuberculosis. The surgical approach of the times was to surgically open and clean the tuberculotic bone. Calot is known to have said “Ouvrir la tuberculose, c'est ouvrir la porte d' la mort” (To open the tuberculosis is to open the door to death).
Continuing his studies and treatment of tuberculosis, on December 22nd, 1896 Calot presents the the French Academy of Medicine a study of the treatment of 37 patients with hyperkyphosis due to Pott’s disease, a tuberculotic spinal deformity, named after Sir Percival Pott. This method included traction and a brace. The second image shows this treatment. Dr. Calot is standing at the center, looking at the patient.
In 1900 Calot founded the “Orthopedic Institute of Berck” which today is known as “Calot’s Institute of Berck-sur-Mer”.
Sources:
1. “Calot's triangle” Abdalla S, Pierre S, Ellis H. Clin Anat. 2013 May;26 (4):493-501
2. “La Vie et l'OEuvre de Francois Calot, chirurgien orthopédiste de Berck” Loisel, P. (in French). Report presented at Société Francaise d'Histoire de la Médecine on 18 March 1987
Image 1: Original image courtesy of the National Library of Medicine
Image 2: Original image public domain courtesy of the Universite Paris-Descartes Histoire de la Santé
