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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[Anular] means "ring" or "ring-shaped". The word [epiphysis] is composed of the preffix [epi-] meaning "outer" or "above", while [-physis] means "growth". The term [anular epiphysis] means the "outer ring-shaped growth".
The [anular epiphysis], sometimes also called the [anular apophysis], is a bony ring found on the superior and inferior aspect of the vertebrae. This outer ring is formed by thickened cortical bone and leaves a central depression which has a more porous surface. In this central depression the vertebrae present with a thin layer of hyaline cartilage, which forms part of the vertebral endplate.
In a lateral view the presence of the anular epiphysis causes the superior and inferior borders of the vertebral body to protrude. This protrusion is called by some anatomists the "lips" of the vertebrae. To see these "lips" click here.
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The root term [-auricul-] arises from the Latin word [Auricula], which is a diminutive of [auris] meaning "ear". Auricula means "a little ear".
The adjectival form [auricular] is used in several places in human anatomy. One of them is the [auricular surface of the iliac bone] (see image) referring to a roughened area in the medial aspect of the iliac bone where it articulates with the sacrum, forming the sacroiliac joint. The Latin term for this articular surface is facies auricularis ossis ilii. A corresponding auricular surface is found in the sacral bone, the facies auricularis ossis sacri.
[Auricular] is also used in the term [auricular cartilage], referring to the fibrocartilage found in the ear or [pinna].
A shortened version is the root term [-aur(i)-], meaning the same. It is used in the word [auricle] referring to the atrial appendages of the heart. These appendages when seen from the outside of the heart really look like little "boxer's ears". This image (click here) shows the left atrial appendage (LAA) or left auricle.
By the way, did you know that one of the digits was called "digitus auricularis"? Read the story here.
Image property of: CAA.Inc.Photographer: David M. Klein
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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.
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Enrique Finochietto, MD (1881 – 1948) Argentinian surgeon and researcher, Enrique Finochietto was born in 1881 in the city of Buenos Aires. He studied in both public and private schools, entering medical school at age 16. He received his medical degree from the University of Buenos Aires in 1904.
Shortly after graduation, he became an intern at the Rawson hospital of Buenos Aires. Dr. Finochietto would become part of the staff of this hospital and be part of its staff all his life. He traveled to Europe to study with surgeons such as Calot, Kocher, Roux, and others, visiting France, Switzerland, Austria, and Italy.
Upon his return he dedicated himself to surgery and endoscopy, and with the help of his brother Ricardo started research and invented many medical and surgical devices, including a motorized surgical table, endoscopic devices and surgical instruments, some of which are in use today throughout the world.
During World War I Dr. Finochietto worked for no fee (ad honorem) as surgeon-in-chief at the Argentine Hospital in Paris. For his dedication and work, France awarded him the Legion d’Honneur and the Red Cross. He came back to Argentina and then traveled to the USA where he visited with the Mayo Brothers and Harvey Cushing. One of Dr. Finochietto’s mottos was “Only the surgeon who goes beyond his obligations serves his duty”.
Although mostly remembered for the Finochietto rib spreader, Dr. Finochietto tackled most types of surgery during his career, including neurosurgery, gastrointestinal, thyroid, thoracic, and orthopedic.
Dr. Finochietto died on February 17, 1948. His legacy in Argentinian surgery lives on through his school of thought, research and disciples.
If you click on Dr. Finochietto’s image (courtesy of Wikipedia) you will see an image of his namesake rib spreader (courtesy of Surgiway, France ).
Sources:
1. “Memoir: Enrique Finochietto, MD (1881 – 1948)” DeBakey. ME. Ann Surg. 1948 Aug; 128(2): 319–320
2. “Enrique Finochietto” The Legacy of Surgery in Argentina” De La Fuente, SG. J Surg Ed (2007)64:2; 120-123
3. “El separador intercostal de Enrique Finochietto, el hospital Rawson, la escuela quir?rgica, y una an?cdota que los relaciona” Saadia, A. Rev Arg Cir Cardiovasc (2009) 3:3 149-150
4. “Rese?as hist?ricas: Enrique Finochietto” Parquet RA. Acta Gastroenterol Latinoam (2009); 39:18
5. “Surgery in Argentina” Beveraggi, EM. Arch Surg (1999) 134”438-444
6. “The Legends Behind Cardiothoracic Surgical Instruments” Ailawadi, G et al. Ann Thorac Surg (2010) 89:5; 1693-1700
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The term [facet] is English and derives from the French word [facette] meaning "a small face". The French term is itself derived from the Latin [facies], meaning "face".
The term facet in anatomy is used to refer to a small smooth surface, usually an articular surface. Another use of the word, still meaning "a small face" can be found in the jeweler's term [facet] used to describe one of the many small surfaces in a diamond.
In spinal anatomy, the term “a facet joint” is most commonly used, but the term should be pronounced with the accent on the first syllable as in “fácet”! And just to be a bit more correct, the proper term for a so-called “facet joint” is “zygapophyseal joint”. This term is one of several medical terms that are used and/or pronounced incorrectly.
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The [spinous process] is a single, median posterior bony process found in most vertebrae, with the exception of C1, and coccygeal vertebrae.
The spinous processes have regional variations according to the spinal region. Cervical vertebrae usually have a bifid spinous process, while C7 (vertebra prominens) has the longest spinous process in the cervical region
In the thoracic region the spinous processes are thin, slender and they overlap each other, while in the lumbar region these processes are thick and square. The spinous processes in the sacral region become progressively smaller.
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The Latin phrase [in situ] means "in its place". Refers to a structure that is in its place and undisturbed.