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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: Definition: "A hilum" is the area of an organ where all the structures that enter or leave the organ are found". The term is based on a Latin word meaning something small, or trivial. Also used to describe the small spot on a seed where the seed is attached. The Latin phrase [ne hilum] was used to denote something of no worth or "not at all". In English it would have been similar to "not worth a bean". The plural form for [hilum] is [hila].
In human anatomy the term is used more on the seed attachment meaning. Since a hilum is the area of an organ where all the structures that enter or leave the organ are found, severing the root structures at the level of the hilum detaches the organ from the body. There are several hila in the body:
• Renal hilum: The hilum of the kidney (see item 5 in the accompanying image)
• Lienal hilum: The hilum of the spleen
• Splenic hilum: The hilum of the spleen
• Pulmonary hilum: The hilum of the spleen
• Hepatic hilum: The hilum of the liver. This name is not commonly used and the hepatic hilum is known as the "porta hepatis" meaning the "door to the liver".
There is a wrong version of the term. The word [hilus] is sometimes used and is incorrect. This word was a mistake by the anatomist Bartolomeo Eustachius (c.1520 - 1574) that has continued until today.
Here is the key to the image: Longitudinal section of a kidney. 1-Renal pyramid, 3-Renal artery, 4-Renal vein, 5-Renal hilum, 6-Renal pelvis, 7- Ureter, 8-Minor calyx, 9-Renal capsule, 14-Minor calyx, 15- Major calyx, 16-Renal papilla, 17-Renal column .
Original Image by Piotr Micha? Jaworski; PioM EN DE PL (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons
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The suffix [-(o)gram] evolved from the Greek word [γράμμα] (gr?mma) , meaning "letter". It was used to denote the written record that was maintained about a patient's ailment. When modern devices that could record an examination, such as an electrocardiograph, the suffix [-ogram] was added to the graphic, so we end up with an electrocardiogram. Today we use it to mean "examination of" with the caveat that some type of written, photographic, digital or drawn record must be left behind. Examples of the use of this suffix are:
- Cholangiogram: Examination of a bile vessel
- Angiogram: Examination of a vessel
- Mammogram: Examination of a breast
- Electrocardiogram: Examination of the electrical activity of the heart. EKG or ECG
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The term [cholecystectomy] is composed by the combined root terms [-chole-] derived from the Greek word [χολή] (cholí) meaning "gall" or "bile, and the root term [-cyst-], also derived from the Greek [κύστη], meaning "bladder". The suffix [-ectomy] results from the combination of two Greek words and means "removal of". For more information of this suffix, click here.
A cholecystectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the gallbladder. It is usually performed because the patient has cholecystolithiasis, a condition where there are calculi (stones) in the gallbladder.
Cholecystectomies were initially made through an "open" procedure, where an incision was done in the abdomen. Today the procedure is performed laparoscopically through small incisions. The first laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed by Dr. Eric Muhe (1938 - 2005) on September 12, 1985. He was followed by Francois Dubois in 1988, and others. Today with the exception of major emergencies or extremely large gallbladders most cholecystectomies are performed laparoscopically.
The accompanying YouTube video shows a laparoscopic cholecystectomy with a detailed demonstration of the instrumentation used in the procedure, courtesy The Mount Sinai Surgical Film Atlas. Because this video shows a surgical procedure and it is age-restricted. To watch the video you will have to log in to YouTube
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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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.
Dr. John E. Skandalakis
John E. Skandalakis, MD, PhD, FACS (1920-2009). Born in Greece, Dr. Skandalakis studied Medicine in Athens. During WWII he fought with the Greek Resistance earning a medal from the Greek government. In the USA Dr. Skandalakis obtained an additional degree in Anatomy, becoming one of the few surgeon-anatomists of our age. An extraordinary teacher, Dr. Skandalakis authored over 300 publications, including journal publications and books1. He is well known for his publications on surgical anatomy related to hernia procedures.
I had the pleasure and the opportunity of meeting and speaking with Dr. John Skandalakis a few times. He always impressed me with his dedication to Clinical Anatomy and his passion for the importance of Anatomy in Surgery. During the 1999 meeting of the American Association of Clinical Anatomists.
In 1992, Dr Skandalakis was awarded the title of "An Immortal" by the Academy of Athens, an award reserved for excellent achievement in the Arts, Sciences, and Humanities. This award has its origins from the time of Plato2.
The Journal of Clinical Anatomy published an "In Remembrance" article on Dr. Skandalakis and his life. I strongly recommend it to anyone who would like to know more about the life and works of Dr. Skandalakis. His picture in this page is a link to The Centers for Surgical Anatomy and Technique of the Emory University School of Medicine.
I was saddened by the news of his passing, but he will be remembered by all those he touched in his life: family, patients, students, and peers. I am also sure that his legacy will go on through his writings, and by those who like me, influence and teach others with his knowledge. I am honored to have met him. Dr. Miranda
Original image of Dr. John E. Skandalakis courtesy of the the Centers for Surgical Anatomy and Technique.
Sources:
1. "Obituary: Dr. John Skandalakis, 1920-2009" Jones, G. Hernia (2010) 14: 79-80
2. "In Remembrance: John Elias Skandalakis,MD,PhD,FACS (1920–2009)Loukas,M; Colborn,L; Tubbs: RS Clin Anat 23:332–334 (2010)
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In Greek mythology [Atlas] is the son of Iapetus and Clymene, said to bear on his shoulders the weight of the world. Since the depiction of Atlas supporting the world appears in all early cartography books, these books were called atlases. With time, any book with a large number of pictures came to be known as an "atlas".
The [atlas] is a name used for the first cervicalvertebra, since this vertebra bears the weight of the head. The atlas is an atypical vertebra as it does not have a vertebral body and is composed by an anterior and a posterior arch. As a cervical vertebra, the atlas does have two lateral foramina transversaria, for the passage of the vertebral artery. The image depicts a superior view of the atlas and the articular surfaces for the atlantooccipital joint can be seen.
If you hover over the image, a posterior view of the atlas will appear and you will see in the midline the articular surface for the atlantoaxial joint. For a larger version of both images, click on the legends below the image
Images property of: CAA.Inc. Photographer: D.M. Klein
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The [gastroduodenal artery] arises from the common hepatic artery, which itself is a branch of the celiac trunk. Immediately after the gastroduodenal artery arises, the common hepatic artery changes its name to proper hepatic artery.
The gastroduodenal artery courses inferiorly, passing posterior to the first portion of the duodenum, and descends dividing into the anterosuperior and posterosuperior pancreaticoduodenal arteries. These branches provide supply to the duonenum and pancreas.
An ulcer of the posterior aspect of the first portion of the duodenum is dangerous, for if undiagnosed and untreated, could perforate into the gastroduodenal artery, which can bleed uncontrolled into the duodenum.
The image is 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
Image property of: CAA.Inc. Photographer: David M. Klein