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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Cerebelum
The word [cerebellum] is Latin and means "little brain". The cerebellum is one of the three main gross components of the brain (encephalon), the other two being the cerebral hemispheres and the brain stem.
The cerebellum is characterized by a tightly folded external cortex where the gyri are long and parallel to each other and the sulci are not very deep. Upon gross examination, the cerebellum presents with two lateral lobes (left and right) and a median lobe known as the vermis. Other authors divide the cerebellum into an anterior and posterior lobe separated by a primary fissure or sulcus, also known as the preclival sulcus.
Cerebellar vermis
The cerebellum is located posterior to the brain stem and posteroinferior to the cerebral hemispheres. It is separated from the occipital lobes of the brain by an extension of dura mater called the tentorium cerebelli. Because of its location, the cerebellum serves as a roof for the 4th ventricle, a component of the ventricular system of the brain. Click here to see a median section, of the cerebellum where you can observe its location and relation to the brain stem, 4th ventricle, and occipital lobe.
The cerebellum is part of the motor control of the brain and is involved in motor coordination, precision, balance and accurate motor timing. Cerebellar dysfunction does not cause paralysis, but produces fine motor control disorders.
Median section image link courtesy of UCLA Radiology.
Sources:
1 "Tratado de Anatomia Humana" Testut et Latarjet 8 Ed. 1931 Salvat Editores, Spain
2. "Anatomy of the Human Body" Henry Gray 1918. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger
Image modified by CAA, Inc. Original image courtesy of bartleby.com
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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.
Abraham Vater
Abraham Vater (1684 - 1751) German anatomist and physician, Abraham Vater was the son of a distinguished physician and was born on the city of Wittenberg. He obtained a Doctorate in Philosophy (PhD) in 1706 and his medical degree in 1710 at the University of Leipzig. He became a professor “extraordinarius” of Anatomy and Botany in 1719, continuing his career in anatomy until he obtained the highest professorial degree at the University.
After the death of his father in 1733 Abraham Vater was appointed to the chair of Anatomy. In 1720 he published the discovery of a “biliary diverticulum” , the hepatopancreatic ampulla, known today as the “Ampulla of Vater” or duodenal papilla. His original article was entitled “Dissertatio anatomica qua novum bilis diverticulum circa orificium ductus choledochi”. He also described a large subcutaneous sensory nerve terminal known as the “Vater–Pacinian corpuscle”.
Known as an anatomist, Vater also wrote on surgery, gynecology, pharmacology, pathology, chemistry, and botany, making him a complete scientist. In a twist of fate, Vater died in 1751 after being afflicted with jaundice, probably a consequence of biliary blockage of his eponymic ampulla.
Sources:
1. "Abraham Vater (1684-1751)" Brit Med J; 2,(4) (1951), 1214
2. "Abraham Vater of the Ampulla (Papilla) of Vater" Lerch, MM; Domschke, W. Gastroenterology (2000) 118: (2) 379
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The word [epicardium] is composed by the prefix [epi-], meaning "outer" or "above"; the root term [-card-], meaning "heart"; and the suffix [-ium], meaning "layer" or "membrane". Thus, the word means "outer layer of the heart".
The epicardium is part of a larger structure called the pericardium, in fact, since the pericardium is in contact with a viscus (the heart), it can also be called "visceral pericardium". It must be noted that these two terms are synonyms: "epicardium" and "visceral pericardium".
The epicardium is a type of serosa composed of an outer layer formed by mesothelial cells and an inner layer formed by loose connective tissue containing varying amounts of fat. This inner layer known as the "subepicardial layer" (a misnomer) also contains elastic fibers.
The main arterial and venous components of the coronary circulation are found in the subepicardial layer. When performing a Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG), a surgeon has to open the outer layer of the epicardium, and enter the subepicardial layer to perform the graft anastomosis.
As a serosa, the epicardium is involved in the production and absorption of a clear fluid, the "pericardial fluid". This fluid acts as a lubricant for the pericardium, allowing for the effortless movement of the heart within the pericardial sac.
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The suffix [-iasis] has an original Greek root (such as in [iatros] meaning "healer" or "hospital"). It later became a Latin root meaning "condition, pathology, or disease".
This suffix can be found in many medical terms such as:
- Choledocolithiasis - a condition of stones in the bile duct.
- Elephantiasis - A condiction where a body part grows unusually large, usually lower extremities and/ or scrotum
- Phthiriasis- A condition or infestarion with public or crab lice
- Helminthiasis- A bodily infestation with a type of parasitic worms called helminths (tapeworms)
- Cystolithiasis - Bladder stones
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Anterior view of the sphenoid bone
Both these root terms have their origin from the Greek [πτέρυγα] (ptéryga) and mean "wing".
In human anatomy the most common use of this root term is in the word [pterygoid]. Since the suffix [-oid] means "similar to", the word pterygoid means "similar to a wing", or "wing-like".
On the inferior aspect of the sphenoid bone (os sphenoidale) there are two very thin bat-wing-like bony appendages that are called the lateral and medial pterygoid plates. The medial pterygoid plate has a hook-like bony appendage called the hamulus (Latin: little hook).
Related to the pterygoid plates are the lateral and medial pterygoid muscles, both these muscles aid inthe process of mastication.
The root term [pter-] can be found in words such as [pterodactyl] meaning "winged finger", it refers to a phrehistoric winged animal; [pteranodon], and [pterosaurus].
Sources:
1 "Tratado de Anatomia Humana" Testut et Latarjet 8 Ed. 1931 Salvat Editores, Spain
2. "Anatomy of the Human Body" Henry Gray 1918. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger
Image in the public domain modified by CAA, Inc. Original image courtesy of bartleby.com
Note: Google Translate includes the symbol (?). Clicking on it will allow you to hear the pronunciation of the word.
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The sinuatrial node, is also known as the "sinoatrial node", "SA node" or by its eponym, the "node of Keith and Flack". It is the initial component of the conduction system of the heart.
It is a small nodule of cardiac muscle tissue, somewhat horseshoe-shaped that is found at the junction of the superior vena cava and the right atrium. Because of the inherent automaticity and rhythmical contractions of the SA node, it acts as the main pacemaker of the heart, being the base for normal heart beat, also known as "sinus rythm"
It receives blood supply from the SA node artery, usually the first or second branch that arises off the right coronary artery. The SA node artery is a long vessel that passes between the right atrium and the ascending aorta on its way to the SA node.
The SA node receives innervation from both sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves. The parasympathetic innervation is by way of the vagus nerve, the Xthcranial nerve. The sympathetic innervation is by way of the cardiac nerves, a plexus that has its origin in the ventral ramiof the first four thoracic spinal nerves (T1-T4).
The SA node was discovered in 1906 by Martin W. Flack (1882-1931) and Arthur Keith (1866-1955). They named it originally the sinoauricular node.
Click on the image for a larger version. Image modified from the original: "3D Human Anatomy: Regional Edition DVD-ROM." Courtesy of Primal Pictures