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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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.
J. Marion Sims
J. Marion Sims (1813 – 1883). American surgeon and gynecologist. James Marion Sims is considered the “Father of Gynecology". He was born in Hanging Rock, South Carolina. At age 12 he moved to Lancaster, South Carolina. Sims studied at the SC College and later moved to Philadelphia, PA where he studied Medicine at the Jefferson Medical College, graduating in 1835. He returned to Lancaster to practice, but shortly after moved to Montgomery, Alabama.
In 1845 Sims started his studies to close vesicovaginal fistulas, operating in the same patient many times. He was finally able to do this using a lateral recumbent position (later called Sims’ position) and a specially designed, U-shaped, vaginal retractor (later called Sims’ speculum). For this procedure he used silver wire as suture material. His findings were published in 1852 in his paper entitled “On the Treatment of Vesico-Vaginal Fistula”
After moving to New York J. Marion Sims helped in the founding and establishing the Woman's Hospital in the State of New York in 1855. Sims moved to Europe during the American Civil War. In Europe he became well-known and in 1866 published his book “Clinical Notes on Uterine Surgery”. While in Paris Sims performed the first cholecystostomy to relieve a blocked gallbladder.
He continued his contribution to gynecology advancing uterine prolapse surgery, advocating hysterectomy for bleeding fibroids, and suggested total hysterectomy as the only means of curing uterine cancer. One of his last contributions (not well accepted initially) was the indication for immediate exploratory laparotomy in abdominal gunshot wounds, burst ectopic pregnancy and any other sharp abdominopelvic trauma.
Sims died in New York on November 13, 1883
Sims’s life was and still is the cause of controversy. His use of slave patients, his professional jealousy and egotism, and his more than once reported disdain for patient privacy would not be accepted by today’s standards. Today in Lancaster his name helps the community thorough the “J. Marion Sims Foundation” dedicated to “support prevention and educational programs that help the citizens of Lancaster and the communities of Great Falls and Fort Lawn”
Sources:
1. “The Influence of J. Marion Sims on Gynecology” Heaton CE Bull N Y Acad Med 1956 32 (9): 685–688
2. “J. Marion Sims, the Father of Gynecology: Hero or Villain?” Sartin, JS South Med J 2004;97(5):500-505
3. “J. Marion Sims: A Defense of the Father of Gynecology” O’Leary JP South Med J 2004;97(5):427-429
4. “Carl Langenbuch and the First Cholecystectomy” Traverso LW Am J Surg 1976; 132; 81-82
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The Latin word [caput] means "head" and the word [medusae] is also Latin and means "Medusa's". [Caput medusae] means "Medusa's head". Medusa is a Greek mythological figure, ruler of the Gorgons; in her mortal form she had a head covered with snakes and looking into her eyes would cause an observer to turn into a stone statue. She was killed by Perseus who used a shield to see her reflection without turning to stone and was thus able to cut her head off.
The term [caput medusae] is used in medical terminology to denote a medical sign, a crown of engorged veins that radiate from the umbilicus. These engorged veins are caused by increased hepatic portal pressure (portal hypoertension) which causes retrograde flow in the veins from the abdominal cavity to the superficial cutaneous veins, engorging them.
The caput medusae sign is usually seen in patients with advanced hepatic cirrhosis.
WARNING: The following explicit images show different stages of this sign. Each of the following links will open images in separate screens and web sites: Image 1; Image 2; Image 3; Image 4.
Medusa's head image in the public domain courtesy of Wikipedia. All other images are the property of each website. We only provide the links to them.
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The [splenic artery], also known as the [lienal artery] is one of the branches of the celiac trunk, the first unpaired branch of the abdominal aorta. Through its branches the splenic artery provides arterial blood supply to the stomach, pancreas, and spleen.
From its origin at the celiac trunk, the splenic artery goes to the left and then curves posteriorly around the spinal column. It has a very tortuous shape. In 1571 Julius Arantius (1530 -1589) described it as "tortuous, in the manner of a snake". A study by Sylvester et al (1998) measured the uncoiled (straight) lenght of the splenic artery (5.8 - 11.3 cm) as well as the variation in coiling (tortuosity) of the artery.
The splenic artery has several branches:
- Pancreatic arteries: Several small perforating branches. The largest of them, usually the first perforator is called either the "middle pancreatic artery", the "great pancreatic artery", or the "arteria pancratica magna"
- Left gastroepiploic artery: The largest of the splenic artery branches, this artery forms part of the greater curvature vascular arcade and provides blood supply to the left side of the stomach and part of the greater omentum
- Short gastric arteries: These are several short branches that course within the gastrosplenic ligament the connects the spleen to the greater curvature and fundus of the stomach. Take down of these branches is critical in certain procedures for esophageal hiatus hernia
- Splenic branches: The terminal branches of the splenic artery supply the spleen. It usually divides into a superior and an inferior branch, each one giving up to four branches that enter through the hilum of the spleen
Although rare, the splenic artery can be the site for an aneurysm. It is the third most common abdominal aneurysm, after abdominal aorta and iliac artery aneurysms. They are being diagnosed more frequently now as incidental findings in cross-sectional imaging.
Sources:
1. "Tratado de Anatomia Humana" Testut et Latarjet 8 Ed. 1931 Salvat Editores, Spain
2. "Tortuosity of the Human Splenic Artery" Sylvester, PA, Stewart R, Ellis, H. Clin Anat (1996):8:214-218
3. "Splenic artery aneurysms"Trastek VF, et al. Surgery (1982) 91:694-699
9. "Splenic Artery Aneurysms and Pseudoaneurysms: Clinical Distinctions and CT Appearances" Agrawal, GA. Johnson, PT. Fishman EK. Am J Roentg (2007) 188: 4; 992-999
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The term [tenia coli] is Latin and refers to three longitudinal whitish bands of tissue seen on the surface of the colon. An alternate spelling for this term is [taenia coli].
The word [tenia] is Latin are means "ribbon" or "tape". It is a term used to describe tapeworms. [Coli] is also Latin and means "pertaining to the colon". See accompanying image. Click the image for a larger depiction.
The tenia coli are formed by the gathering or grouping of the longitudinal (external) muscle layer found in the components of the digestive system. While in most of the organs the longitudinal layer is spread out around the organ, in the colon the grouping of the fibers form these three longitudinal bands. The contant tonic contraction of these bands of muscle cause the colonic wall to bunch forming sacculations known as "haustra".
The tenia coli of the cecum converge at the base of the vermiform appendix. This is one anatomical constant used by surgeons to localize and identify the vermiform appendix.
There are three tenia coli best seen in the transverse colon. Because of their relationship with the omentum and the transverse mesocolon, two of them are known as the [tenia omentalis] and the [tenia mesocolica] respectively. The third one is free, and is the easiest one to observe; it is called the "free tenia" or [tenia libera].
The tenia are well formed until the distal portion of the sigmoid colon. When it forms part of the rectosigmoid region all three tenia start to dissipate and spread out until they form the longitudinal layer of the rectum.
Since the small intestine is not necessarily always small in relation to the colon (because of food content, intestinal gases, or pathology), the location of the organ and the presence of haustra, as well as the presence of tenia coli and appendices epiploica, is used to recognize the organ as colon.
Sources:
1. "Dorlands's Illustrated Medical Dictionary" 26th Ed. W.B. Saunders 1994
2. "The origin of Medical Terms" Skinner, AH, 1970
3. "Tratado de Anatomia Humana" Testut et Latarjet 8 Ed. 1931 Salvat Editores, Spain
Image modified from the original from Testut and Latajet, 1931
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The word [haustrum] is Latin and refers to a sac or scoop-like leather bucket used by the Romans to draw water out of a well. The plural form is [haustra].
In anatomy, the word [haustrum] is used to refer to a sacculation or outpouching of the colon caused by the constant tonus contraction of the longitudinal muscle fibers found in the tenia coli, as well as the distribution of circular fibers. See accompanying image. Click the image for a larger depiction.
Since the small intestine is not necessarily always small in relation to the colon (because of food content, intestinal gases, or pathology), the location of the organ and the presence of haustra, as well as the presence of tenia coli and appendices epiploica, is used to recognize the organ as colon.
The term can also be used as an adjective and the colon can be said to be "haustrated".
The word seems to have been used for the first time by Albrecht Von Haller (1708 - 1777) a Swiss anatomist, botanist, and physiologist.
Sources:
1. "Dorlands's Illustrated Medical Dictionary" 26th Ed. W.B. Saunders 1994
2. "The origin of Medical Terms" Skinner, AH, 1970
3. "Tratado de Anatomia Humana" Testut et Latarjet 8 Ed. 1931 Salvat Editores, Spain
Image modified from the original from Testut and Latajet, 1931
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The medical suffix [-algia] originates from the Greek [algos /algein] meaning "pain". The term is used in many medical words. Applications of this root term include:
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