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 173 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
UPDATED: This is a word based on the Greek term[νευρών] (nev?r??n), which was used initially to denote or mean "sinew" or "tendon". The early descriptions of anatomy made no difference between a nerve and a tendon. The meaning of the word [aponeurosis], although not exactly literal, is that of a "flat tendon".
This is important in abdominal wall anatomy and to understand the anatomy of the inguinofemoral region as it relates to hernia. There are three aponeuroses (plural form), the external oblique aponeurosis, the internal oblique aponeurosis, and the transversus abdominis aponeurosis, all contributing to the rectus sheath and the linea alba.
There are other aponeuroses in the human body, such as the fascia lata and the superficial and deep gastrocnemius aponeuroses that end in the calcaneal (Achilles) tendon.
- Details
Click for a larger image
The [common hepatic artery] is one of the three branches that arise from the celiac trunk providing blood supply to the liver, duodenum, and pancreas. The common hepatic artery ends where the gastroduodenal artery arises, and then changes its name to proper hepatic artery
It is a relatively short artery, close to 3 cm. in length, with an average diameter of 7 mm.
It can present with simple to complex anatomical variations. In one of them the common hepatic artery arises from the superior mesenteric artery and not from the celiac trunk. For more information on anatomical variations of the celiac trunk and the common 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
Image property of: CAA.Inc.Photographer: David M. Klein
- Details
UPDATED: The root term for this word comes from the Latin [fenestram] meaning "window". [Fenestration] is "the presence or the act of creating a window". As an example, the term is used to describe a small, round opening found in the medial wall of the tympanic cavity (middle ear), the [fenestra cochleae] or [fenestra rotunda] meaning "round window" (see image 1).
I
IFenestrations can be found as natural occurrences in the body, as a result of an infection or destructive process or pathology, or they can be surgical procedures attempting to create a window, opening, or foramen. The cusps of all the heart valves can present normal fenestrations in the distal aspect of the cusp, beyond the coaptation or closure line. These become abnormal fenestrations when they occur below the coaptation line which may need to be repaired. Image 2 shows normal and abnormal fenestrations in the cusps of an aortic valve. Fenestrations in a valve cusp can be caused by endocarditis, among other causes.
Some surgical fenestrations that can be described are:
1. Fenestration of a tooth, allowing for drainage.
2. Pericardial fenestration, also known as a "pericardial window" to allow for drainage of excessive pericardial fluid (pericardial effusion).
3. Fenestration in a Fontan procedure, where a small opening or "window" is created to relieve excessive pressure in the venous circulation.
Word suggested by: J.Estrada
Original image #1courtesy of bartleby.com. Image#2 property of CAA, Inc.Artist: Dr. Miranda
- Details
This medical term [hypoacusia] is composed of the prefix [ hyp-], a derivate from the Greek [υπό] (ip? which means "under", "deficient" or "below". The root term [-acus-] is also a derivate from the Greek [ακούω] (ako?o?) meaning “listen”, or “hear”. The adjectival suffix [-ia] has a double meaning of “pertaining to” and “condition”. The term hypoacusia means then “a condition of deficient hearing”. It can also be used as [hypoacusis] with the same meaning.
A common mistake is to use this term for total deafness. This is not correct, in [hypoacusia] the patient has varying degrees of hearing loss, but there is some hearing function left.
There are many causes of hypoacusia: genetic, viral, bacterial, traumatic, etc. There are two types of hypoacusia. The first one is transmission hypoacusia, where the mechanical system that transmits vibration from the external ear and tympanic membrane (eardrum) to the inner ear can be damaged. The second type is neurosensory hypoacusia, where the components of the inner ear as well as the nerve structures of the vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII cranial nerve) up to and including brain areas related to the hearing process may be damaged.
Different degrees of hypoacusia have been demonstrated to affect proper communication functions and learning. Lower levels of hypoacusia (less than 25%) can be undiagnosed in small children; in fact, there are several studies that prove that the presence of low level hypoacusia in small children is a good predictor of language alteration and learning problems if not diagnosed properly and timely.
My personal thanks to Maria E. Gallegos, Chair of the Speech Pathology School, Iberoamerican University, Santiago Chile, for her help in this article. Dr. Miranda
- 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.
The development of the series of articles on The history of surgical stapling [1] ; [2]; [3] was started because of personal communications with the family of the late Drs. Mark and Michael Ravitch.
This lead me to research on the biographies of the pioneers of surgery, anesthesia, and asepsis, as well as the life of those who invented, developed, and lead the way in the use of these now-widely-used surgical devices.
The most common question I received from the general public was "What are these surgical staplers and how are they used?". The following video answers these questions as well as the history of the development of surgical staplers. I sincerely hope that this video is well received by the Medical Industry and the public in general.
My personal thanks to the family of the late Drs. Mark and Michael Ravitch for their support, to the Museum of Surgical Staplers for images and links, and to the Covidien Surgical Products Division (today Medtronic Stapling) for providing the surgical staplers shown in this video. Dr. Miranda
This video was initially published in 2014, and directed by David M. Klein, Creative Director of Clinical Anatomy Associates, Inc.