Etymology of Orthopaedics Flashcards
1
Q
a, an:
A
(G): Negative prefix before a word that signifies the thing named is deprived of its quality (ex; anaerobic, anorexic); not, without.
2
Q
abdomen:
A
(L) belly, the area between the chest and plevis
3
Q
abductors:
A
(L) abducens, led away; ab- from ducere, to lead. Muscle on contraction pulls away from median plan of the body or axial line of extremity.
4
Q
accident:
A
(L) from accidens, a happening; accidere, to happen; (G) cado, to fall. An unexpected happening.
5
Q
Acetabulum:
A
(L) acetum, vinegar cup + bulum, little cup, dim. of abrum, a holder or receptacle. Cup shaped depression of the ilium ( true hip) for holding head of femur
6
Q
Acromion
A
(G) akron or akros, summit, peak + -omos, shoulder; outermost tip of scapula.
7
Q
Acute:
A
(L) acutus, sharo, from acuere, to sharpen (cf. acus, needle.)
8
Q
Adductor:
A
(L) Adductus, to bring toward median plane of body vs abductor.
9
Q
Adeno:
A
(G) prefix for gland
10
Q
Adhesion:
A
(L) ad, to bring in + haerere, to stick; adhaesio, stuck to.
11
Q
adipose:
A
(L) adeps. adipis, fat. Term used ti describe tissue fat,
12
Q
adjuvant:
A
(L) adjuvans, aiding; that which assists to increase the action desired.
13
Q
adventitia:
A
(L) adventicius. Ad, to + veniere, to come. An adventitious bursa is one foremed from surrounding tissues in an unusual situatuin (ex., tailor’s bursa, student ‘s elbow). A tunica adventitia is applied to the outer covering of a structure or organ (artery).
14
Q
agonist:
A
(G) agonistes, a rival or combatant, a prime mover; a muscle concerned with carrying out a movement (contraction) versus antagonist ( opposite).
15
Q
ala, alar:
A
(L) winglike structure; alar ligament of first cervical vertebra, and sacral ala, the lateral portion.
16
Q
allograft
A
(G) allos, other+ (L) graphium, grafting knife. To transplant tissue from same species.
17
Q
ambidextrous:
A
(L) ability to use both hands as if they were right hands; (G) ambi, on both sides + dexter, right.
18
Q
amphiarthrosis:
A
(G) amphi, on both sides + arthron, a joint. Limited mobility with movement in all directions. Diarthrosis and synarthrosis refer to incomplete joints (intervertebral disks)
19
Q
amputation:
A
(L) amputare, to cut around + amputatuion, a pruning. Hippocrates recommonded thsi opertation at the joint.
20
Q
analgesia
A
(G) an, not + algos, pain. Absence of pain.
21
Q
anaphylaxis:
A
(G) ana, up + phylaxis, protection
22
Q
anapophysis:
A
(G) ana, back + apophysis, an offshot; an accessory spinal process of vertebra
23
Q
anastomosis:
A
(G) an opening created by a natural, pathological or surgical communication between two normally distinct spaces, organs or tubular structures.
24
Q
anatomy:
A
(G) ana, apart + tome, a cutting; anatome, dissection. Hippocrates ( 420 BC) used word for a branch medical education. The oldest treatise known on anatomy is an Egyptain papyrus (1600 BC) on dissectiong bodies for medical purposes. The science was based on dissection, from which it got its name.
25
anconeus:
(G) ancon, a bend, especially the elbow (cf. angle)
26
anesthesia:
(A-S) an, against + aesthesis, sensation. Partial or complete loss of sensation.
27
ankle:
(A-S) from (L) angulus, an angle, corner, or bend; (G) bend.
28
ankylosis:
(G) ankyl, stiff + osis, conditon. An ancient term for stiffening of joints, loss of mobility.
29
annulus:
(L) ring -shape structure; annular fibrosis of intervertebral disk.
30
anomaly:
(G) anomalia, an, against, opposite + omaly, ordinary. Abnormality or deviation from normal, whether in structure, form, location, or function.
31
antagonist:
(G) anti- or an, against, opposite + tagon, a struggle; agonistes, a rival. A muscle that oppeses the action of another muscle ( agonist).
32
anterior:
(L) ante-, before, more in front; from anterus, positive form of anterior. antero-(L) ante- before, more in front; prefix used in combining form.
33
aorta:
(L from GR aorte) the main trunk of the arterial system of the body.
34
anti-:
(G) prefix meaning against.
35
apex
(L) Tip
36
aplasia:
(G) a, against + plasia to mold or form. A failure in tissue formation.
37
aponeurosis:
(G) apo away from + neuron, tendon. Before Aristotle ( c. 350 BC) introduced the word neura for nerves, everthing of a fibrous nature was called a neuron. Galen (c. 180 AD) was the first to use the word aponeurosis to refer to the insertion of muscle that was not by flesh fibers but terminated in white sheath.
38
apophysis:
(G) apo, from + physis, growth; oofshoot. Outcropping, but not end of bone, but rather the outgrowth of bone without an independent center of ossification. A place for tendinous attachment.
39
appendages:
(L) appendere, to hang to, an extermity (pl. appendices)
40
arachnoid:
(G) arachne, spiderlicke + eidos, form, shape; resembling a web; cerebellum and spinal cord covering.
41
arcuate:
(L) arcualis, arch-shaped, bowed. Refers to arcuate line of rectus sheath and arcuate ligament of wrist.
42
artery
(G) aer, air= tesro, to carry; arteries were belived to be air carriers in vessels. Later referred to arteries carrying blood.
43
arthritis:
(G) arthro, joint + itits, inflammation.
44
arthrodesis:
(G) arthro, joint + desis, binding; fuison of a joint.
45
arthrology:
(G) arthro, joint + -ology, treatise or discourse, the science of joints. Galen recorded two main order of joints: Diarthrosis ( articulation w/ movement) and synarthrosis ( articulation w/out movement). He then divided the diarthrosis into enarthrosis, arthrodies, and ginglymus. Synarthroses into suture, symhysis, and gomphosis.
46
Articulatio:
(L) articulus, little joint, dim. of artus, fitted close. Artus was used for limbs, thus articulatus, jointed. Galen, Pliny, and celsus preferred the Latin articulus to the Greek arthro; however, both continue to be used.
47
artifact:
(L) ars, art + facere, to make; anything artificially produced and not occurring naturally. A feature of a test that stimulates a pathologic condition or interference w/ correct results of the test
48
aspera:
(L) asper, rough. Linea aspera is a roughened ridge on femur associated w/ insertion of adductor group muscles.
49
asthenia:
(G) asthenis, w/out strength; loss of strength, myasthenia- loss of muscle strength.
50
ataxia:
(G) lack of order; defective muscular coordination (esp.) that is manifested when voluntary muscular movements are attempted.
51
atlas:
(G) from atlao, endure or sustain. Galen ( c 180AD) called the atlas protos spondylos, the 1st veretbra, and the 2nd vertebra, epistropheus, to rotate on. The term was latter changed to refer to the axis.
52
atrophy:
(G) atrophia, a wasting; a, lacking + trophia, nourishment. A decreased in size of an organ or tissue, commonly a muscle.
53
autogenous:
(G) autos, selg+ genous, to produce or originating w/in the body.
54
autonomic:
(G,A-S) auto, self + nomos, law; functioning independently.
55
auxe:
(G) enlargment, increase; auxetic, to promote proliferation of leukocytes and other cells.
56
avulsion:
(L) avulsio, to sepatate by force. From (G) ab, away from = (L) vellere, to Pull.
57
axilla:
(L) armpit. Uncertain origin, but thought to be a compound word from axis alae, meaning axle of a wing, where arm revolves at this point.
58
axis:
(L) a linde, real or imaginary, that runs through center of a body; or a pivot, about which a part revolves.
59
bacterium
(pl. Bacteria): (G) bakterion, rod; rode-shaped, one-celled organism.
60
biceps:
(L) bi, two + ceps, head; caput; biciptal, having two head. Refers to the biceps brachii and biceps femora muscle groups.
61
bifida:
bi, two+ findere, to cleave; having two parts ( ex. spina bifida)
62
biopsy:
(G) bio, life + op, vision. Excision of living tissue for microscopic examination.
63
blasts:
(G) suffix meaning germ; used in reference to cells that make other cells, such as the osteroblasts, bone making cells.
64
bone:
(A-S) from (L) os and (G) osteon.
65
boss:
(Fr) boce, a swelling; a rounded eminence (ex., carpal bossing) bosselated refers to having many prominences
66
brachium:
(L) arm, from (G) brakhion, shorter; brachy, short. Brachialis muscle of upper arm.
67
Brevis:
(L) short. refers to short flexor of fingers ( flexor digitorum brevis)
68
brisement:
(Fr) crushing as in breaking by fordce: pronounced breez-mon.
69
bruise:
(Fr) brioser, to break. broke vessel.
70
bruit:
(Fr) noise; pronounced broo-ee
71
bunion:
(G) bunion, bugnone, lumo; bouvos, a hill or eminence; (L) bunia, enlargement.
72
bursa:
(G) bursula, a pouch or sac, a purse; (L) pouch, wine skin. A sac between tendons, tendon and bone, muscle and bone that acts as a gliding surface at pressure points where friction can occur. Named in association with their anatomic location.
73
cadaver (pl. cadavera) :
(L) cadere, to fall, die.
74
calcar:
(L) a spur, calcarine, spur-shaped; small spiny projection of bone
75
calcaneus:
(L) calz, a heel; os calcis, heel bone.
76
calcification:
(L) calx, lime + facere, to make.
77
calsium:
(L) calx, lime
78
calisthenics:
(G) kalos, beautiful + sthenos, strength.
79
callus:
(G) kalon, callositas, dry wood; (L) callum, hard skin;
| (A-S) callus, new bone formation at site of fracture.
80
callous:
hard, thickened skin ( ex., the foot)
81
canal:
(L) canalis, channel. Conduit for vessels, nerves.
82
canaliculi:
tunnels within bone matrix
83
cancellous:
(L) cancelli, lattice work. A resemblance of cancellous tissue in bone to lattice work.
84
capitate:
(L) caput, head-shaped; having a rounded extermity. Refers to small bone on distal row of hand; Triquetrocapitate is the ligament.
85
capitellum:
(L) capitella, small head. Knoblike protrusion of lateral condyle of the distal humerus.
86
capsule:
(L) dim. of capsa, capsula, a little box; from apio, I receive.
87
caput:
(L) a head; (G) capitulum, a little head. Modified to -ceps, as in biceps and triceps.
88
carotid:
(G) karos, deep sleep; refers to main artiers of head and neck.
89
carpus:
(L) carpus, carpi, wrist: (G) karpos, karphyos, dry bits of wood.
90
cartilage:
(L) cartilage, gristle; (G) chondro.
91
cauda:
(L) tail, from cadere, to fall. Hence, cauda (tail) (equine (horse), termination of the spinal cord, was believed to resumble a plaited horse's tail.
92
cell:
(L) cella, a chamber.
93
cervical:
(L) cervico, cervicalis; pertaining to the neck.
94
cheiro:
(G) chiro, hand; (L) manus, to graps
95
chirurgery:
(G) hand + work; one who works with his hands, a chirurgeon.
96
chondral:
(G) from chondros, cartilage ro gristle; (L) cartilage, gristle.
97
chronic:
(G) chronos, time; of long duration
98
cicatrix:
(L) a scar left by a healed wound; to heal by scar tissue
99
circulation:
(L) circulatio, movement in a circular course.
100
claudication:
(L) claudicare, to limp or be lame; disturbance of circulation.
101
clavicle:
(L) claviculum, dim. of clavis, a key, probably related to claudere, to shut or close; (G) cleido- as in sternocliedomastoid. In both (L) and (G), its use ment a key, bolt, fastener. The collar bone was likened to a key because it locks the shoulder girdle to the breast bone, and because of its shape.
102
clinic:
(G) klinikos, to recline, a bed.
103
clonus:
(G) klonos, turmoil; convulsing movements of epileptics. Now refers to spasm in which rigidity and relaxation alternate.
104
coccyx:
(G) cuckoo's beak, from kokkyx, coccygeus, a cuckoo. Coccyx, tip of spine
105
collagen:
(G) kolla, glue + gennan, to produce; a glue like substance that holds connective tissues together. Colloid, kollodes, glutinous.
106
collateral:
(L) con, together + lateralis, latus , side; secondary accessory.
107
comitans:
(L) companion. Comes (sing.), cometes (pl.); a blood vessel that accompanies a nerve trunk.
108
communis:
(L) common, a vessel; that supplies several branches of the hand.
109
comminuted
(L) com, together + minuere, to crumble. To break into pieces, crushed.
110
concussion:
(L) concussus, a shaking, from concutio, shake violently. An old term for thunder.
111
condyle:
(G) kondylos, knuckle, knob; projections at the end of bones.
112
conjoined:
(Fr) to meet, touch, overlap; refers to aponeurotic tendon.
113
contusion:
(L) contusio, a bruise; from contundere: con, together + tundere, to break.
114
coracoid:
(G) korax, a crow + oeides, shape; (L) corvus. Anything hooked or pointed like a raven's beak. Variant coronoid.
115
corpus:
(L) corporis, body; (G) somatos, soma.
116
corpuscle:
(L) corpusculum, small, rounded body; former term for blood cell.
117
cortex:
(L) corticis, rind; outer hard layer of compact bone.
118
cortical:
(L) cortex, a rind, outer layer.
119
costo-:
(L) costa, from costarum, ribs. Refers to crostoverebral cartilage.
120
coxa:
(L) kaksha, the hip bone.
121
cranium:
(L) skull
122
crepitus:
(G) krepis, a little noise, creaking; from crepitare, to crackle.
123
cribriform:
(L) cribrum, a sieve + forma, from, sieve-like; anything perforated with holes (ex., cribriform plate of ethmoid bone).
124
cricoid:
(G) kirkos, a ring + oeides, shape. Refers to cricoid cartilage shaped like a signet ring.
125
cruciate:
(L) crux, shaped like a cross; refers to the two intraarticular ligaments of the knee joint that cross and gives strong support to the knee.
126
cubitus:
(L) elbow, from cubo, lying down (cf. decubitus). Cuboid is cube-shaped; (G) kyboides, cube.
127
cuneiform:
(L) cuneus, a wedge + forma, shape. Anything wedge-shaped.
128
curettage:
(Fr) curette, a cleanser; scraping out a cavity. Also called debridement.
129
cutaneous:
(L) cutis, skin.
130
cuticle:
(L) cuticula, little skin. The epidermis of the skin.
131
cyto- :
(G) kytos, prefix denoting cell.
132
dactylos:
(G) a digit, of the fingers or toes.
133
debridement:
(Fr) de + bridle; thus, unbridling. Originally, to cut away as restricting bands, and later to include tissue.
134
decubitus:
(L) lying down; position of lying down, decubitus ulcer may occur.
135
dehiscence:
(L) dehiscere, to gape; to burst open, as in a wound.
136
deltoid
(G) Delta ( 4th latter of greek alphabet); triangular-shaped.
137
dermas:
(L) skin; cutis vera, true skin; corium, integumentary.
138
dermatome:
(G) derma, skin + tome, incision. Refers to dernatome distribution of spinal cord segments and nerve distribution.
139
desmoid:
(G) from desmos, band, a ligament.
140
desiccant:
(L) to dry up, as in a wound; desiccans (ex., osterochondritis desiccans).
141
dexterity:
(L) means right or to the right; dexter, right.
142
diagnosis:
(G) dia, through + genosis, knowledge; to discern.
143
diaphragm:
(G) dia, through + phragm, a partition, wall. Any partition of the body; more specifically, the abdominal diaphragm.
144
diaphysis:
(G) dia, through + physis, growth. To grow through, produce. Refers to center of ossification for shaft of long bones situated between growing regions at end of bone (epiphysis, metaphysis)
145
diastase:
(G) dia, trough + stase, to stand. A standing apart, separation. Now refers to complete separation of bone
146
diathermy:
(G) dia, thorugh + therme, heat.
147
digitorum:
digitus, fingers or toes.
148
diplegia
(G) di, two + plegia, stroke; paralysis affecting one side only.
149
disk
(L) discus, plate; flat, round, platelike structure ( intervertebral disk)
150
disease:
(Fr) desaise; des, from + aise, depart from normal.
151
dislocation:
(L) dis, apart + locus or locare, to place;
| dislocatio. Refers to speration of bone at joint area; formerly callled a subluxation.
152
Doctor:
(L) from docere, to teach.
153
dorsum:
(L) the back of a part
154
dysfunction:
(G) dys, difficult, painful + functio (L), a performance. Abnormal, impaired function.
155
dysplasia:
(G) dys, bad + plasien, to from. Abnomral growth process.
156
dura:
(L) hard. Refers to dura mater, the outermost and toughest of the three membranes enclosing the spinal cord and brain. Syn. pia mater, soft.
157
dystrophy:
(G) dys, bad, defective + trophy, nourishment. Deficient by way of nutrition or metabolism; shortening of a muscle.
158
ebonation:
(L) e,out + (A-S) ban, bone. removal of boney fragments from wound.
159
eburnate:
(L) eburnus, ivory; refers to changes in bone density to an ivory-like structure in a process called eburnation.
160
ecchymosis:
(G) ek, out + chymos, juice + osis, condition; ecchy, extravasation + mosis, to pour, shed. Extravasation of blood into tissue.
161
edema:
(G) oedema, a swelling. Hippocrates referred to fluid buildup in tissue as oedematous, and the term continues to this day.
162
effusion:
(L) escape of fluid.
163
elbow:
(A-S) from elboya; eln, forearm + boga, bend. From ell, a measure of lenght used early times from shoulder to fingers; boga was a bending or bow.
164
embolus:
(G) plug.
165
enarthrosis:
(G) en, in + arthron, joint; a ball-and-socket joint.
166
en bloc:
(Fr) as a whole; a whole; in surgery to remove as a whole or a lump.
167
enchondroma:
(G) en, within + chondro, cartilage + oma, tumor; tumor within cartilage.
168
endoskeleton:
(G) endo, within + (A-S) skeleton; the bony and cartilaginous parts of the skeleton that develop from mesoderm and not ectoderm and that are buried within the soft parts.
169
endosteum:
(G) endo, within; medullary cavity of bone.
170
ensiformus:
(L) enis, sword + forma, shape. Part of breastbone ( xiphoid).
171
enthesis:
(Gr) a putting in. The use of metallic or other inert substances to substitute for or replace lost tissuer
172
epicondyle:
(G) epi, upon + kondylos, a knuckle, knob. Prominence on bone above or upon a condyle.
173
epidermis:
(L) epi, upon + dermis, skin. Outter layer of skin.
174
epilepsy:
(G) epi, upon +lepsy, falling sickness. Ancient term referring to inflection, seizures. The french terms are petit mal
(short) and grand mal (large).
175
epimysium.
(G) epi, upon + mys, muscle. The fibrous sheath enclosing a muscle.
176
epiphysis:
(G) epi, upon + physis, outgrowth. Center of ossification where a part of the process ossifies separately before making an osseous union with the main portion of bone.
177
epithelium:
(G) epi, upon + thele, nipple. Areas with nipplelike papillae. Term usually applied fro the skin. The cognate word endothelium is usually applied to blood vessel inner lining and mesothelium to viscera lining such as the lung pleura and lining of the peritoneal cavity.
178
eponychium:
(L) from onyx, nail; the structure from which the nail develops.
179
equilibrium:
(L) aequus, equal + libra, balance. State of balance. Condition in which contending forces are equal.
180
Equina:
(L) from equus, horse; refers to equinovarus and valgus ( a form of clubfoot).
181
erythema:
(G) erythros, red + ema, condition. To redden, to blush.
182
erythropoietic:
(G) erythros, red + poietic, suffix for making or producing.
183
ethmoid:
(G) ethmos, a sieve + ocides, from, shape, resembles. Cribriform, sievelike. Perforations of the ethmoid plate.
184
etiology:
(G) aetiology; refers to studying causes of disease.
185
eversion:
(L) out + ventere, to turn the foot out at the ankle between the talus and calcaneus.
186
exacerbate:
(L) ex, out + acerbus, hars, bitter; from exacerbare and exasperate, an increase in symptoms, a flare-up, to make worse.
187
exostosis:
(G) ex, out + os, bone + osis, condition. A bony outgrowth.
188
extrinsic:
(L) extrnsecus, coming from; extra, outside + secus, otherwise.
189
euphoria:
(A-S) eu-, well, good + phoria, being; a condition of good health.
190
fabella:
(L) dim. of faba, a bean: a bean-shaped sesamoid fibrocartilage tha may develop in the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle behind the knee joint.
191
facet:
(Fr) facette, little face; refers to the small, smooth articular surface of bone as in facet joints of the spine.
192
falciform:
(L) falz, sickle + forma, shape; triangular ligament of ischium ( inguinal ligament).
193
falx:
(L) sickle-shaped structure; denotes a ligamentous opening (ex,. conjoinded tendon)
194
fascia:
(L) a band, bandage. Anatomic fasciae denote sheathlike fibrous connective tissue that supports, separates, and covers muscles, joints, and other tissues of the body.
195
femur:
(L) dim. of ferendum, bearing; bearing weight as in the thigh bone.
196
fenestra:
(L) a window; to open or make a window; fenestrate, fenestration.
197
fiber:
(L) fibra, threadlike; (G) fibrin, fibroid.
198
fibula:
(L) a small clasp, or needle like point, a broach, buckle: (G) anything pointed or piercing. Long, thin bone of the lower limb behind the tibia.
199
fissure:
(L) fissura, a cleft or groove; any groove in bone or fascia.
200
flap:
(Dutch) flappens, to strike, named for a pedicle graft covering bone after resection.
201
Diarthrosis:
(G) A joint, a movable articulation; freely movable hinge joint.
202
diastase:
(G) dia, through + stase, to stand. A Standing apart, separation. Now refers to complete separation of bone.
203
diathermy:
(G) dia, through + therme, heat.
204
digitorum:
(L) digitu, fingers or toes.
205
diplegia:
(G) di, two + plegia, stroke: paralysis affecting one side only.
206
disk:
(L) discus, palte; flat, round, platelike structure (intervertebral disk).
207
disease:
(Fr) desaise; des, from + aise, depart from normal.
208
dislocation:
(L) dis, apart + locus or locare, to place; dislocatio. Refers to separation of bone at joint area; formerly caleed a subluxation.
209
Doctor:
(L) from docere, to teach.
210
dorsum:
(L) the back of a part
211
dysfunction:
(G) dys, difficult, painful + functio (L), a performance. abnormal, impaired function.
212
dysplasia:
(G) dys, bad + plasien, to form. Abnormal growth process.
213
dura:
(L) hard. Refers to dura mater, the outermost and toughest of three membrances enclosing the spinal cord and brain. Syn. pia mater, soft.
214
dystrophy:
(G) dys, bad, defective + troph, nourishment. Deficient by way of nutrition or metabolism; shortening of muscle.
215
ebonation:
(L) e, out + (A-S) ban, bone. Removal of bony fragment from a wound.
216
eburnate:
(L) eburnus, ivory; refers to changes in bone density to an ivory-like structure in a process called eburnation.
217
ecchymosis:
(G) ek, out + chymos, juice + osis, conddition; ecchy, extravasation + mosis, to pour, shed. Extracasation of blood into tissue.
218
edema:
(G) oedema, a swelling. Hippocrates referred to fluid buildup in tissue as oedematous, and the term continues to this day.
219
effusion:
(L) escape of fluid.
220
elbow:
(A-S) from elboga; eln, forearm + boga, bend. From ell, a measure of length used eraly times from shoulder to fingers; boga was a bending or bow.
221
embolus:
(G) plug.
222
enarthrosis:
(G) en, in + arthron, joint; a ball-and-socket joint.
223
en bloc:
(Fr) as a whole; in surgery to remove as a whole or a lump.
224
enchondroma:
(G) en, within + chondro, cartilage + oma, tumor; tumor within cartilage.
225
endoskeleton:
(G)endo, within + (A-S) skeletin; the bony and cartilaginous parts of the skeleton that develop from mesoderm and not ectoderm and that are buried within the soft parts.
226
ensiformus:
(L) ensis, sowrd + forma, shape. Part of the breastbone (xiphoid).
227
enthesis:
(Gr)a putting in. The use of metallic or other inert substances to substitute for or replace lost tissue.
228
epicondyle:
(G) epi, upon + kondylos, a knuckle, knob. Promineence on bone above or upon a condyle.
229
epidermis:
(L) epi, upon + dermis, skin. Outer layer of skin.
230
epilepsy:
(G) epi, upon + lepsy, falling sickness. Ancient term referring to inflection, sezures. The French terms are petit mal (short) and grand mal ( large).
231
epimysium:
(G) epi, upon + mys, Muscle. The fibrous sheath enclosing a muscle.
232
epiphysis:
(G) epi, upong + physis, outgrowth. Center of ossification where a part of the process ossifies separately before making an osseous union with the main portion of bone.
233
epithelium.
(G) epi, upon + thele, nipple. Areas with nipplelike papillae. Term usually applied for skin. The cognate word endothelium is ussually applied to blood vessel inner lining and mesothelium to visceral lining such as the lung pleura and lining of the peritoneal cavity.
234
eponychium:
(L) from onyx, nail; the structure from which the nail develops.
235
equilibrium:
(L) aequus, equal + libra, balance. State of balance. Condition in which contending forces are equal.
236
equina:
(L) from equus, horse; refers to equinovarus and valgus ( a form of clubfoot).
237
erythema:
(G) erythros, red + ema, condition. To redden, to blush.
238
erythropoietic:
(G) erythros, red + poietic, suffix for making or producing.
239
ethmoid:
(G) ethmos, a sieve + oeides, form, shape, resembles. Cribriform, sievelike. Perforations of the ethmoid plate.
240
etiology:
(G) aetiology; refers to studying causes of disease.
241
eversion:
(L) out + ventere, to turn the foot out at the ankle between the talus and calcaneus.
242
exacerbate:
(L) ex, out + acerbus, harsh, bitter; from exacerbare and exasperate, an increase in symptoms, a flare-up, to make worse.
243
exostosis:
(G) ex, out + os, bone + osis, condition. A bony outgrowth.
244
extrinsic:
(L) extrinsecus, coming from; extra, outside + secus, otherwise.
245
euphoria:
(A-S) eu-, well, good + phoria, being: a condition of good health.
246
fabella:
(L) dim. of faba, a bean-shaped sesamoid fibrocartilage tha may develop in the lateral head of gastrocnemius muscle behind the knee joint.
247
facet:
(Fr) facette, little face; refers to small, smooth articular surface of bone as in facet joints of the spine.
248
falciform:
(L) falx, sickle + forma, shape; triangular ligament of ischium (inguinal ligament).
249
falx:
(L) sickle-shaped stucture; denotes a ligamentous opening (ex., conjoined tendon).
250
fascia:
(L) a band, bandage. anatomic fasciae denote sheathlike fibrous connective tissue that supports, separates, and covers muscles, joints, and other tissues of the body.
251
femur:
(L) dim. of ferendum, bearing; bearing weight as in the thigh bone.
252
fenestra:
(L) a window; to open or make a window; fenestrate, fenestration.
253
fiber:
(L) fibra, threadlike; (G) fibrin, fibroid.
254
fibula:
(L) a small clasp, or needlelike point, a broach, buckle; (G) anything pointed or piercing. Long, thin bone of the lower limb behind the tibia.
255
fissure:
(L) fissura, a cleft or groove; any groove in bone or fascia.
256
flap:
(Dutch) flappens, to strike; named for a pedicle graft covering bone after resection.
257
flavum:
term for yellow; refers to band of yellow elastic tissue of laminae of spine, called yellow ligament or ligamentum flavum.
258
flexor:
(L) flectere, to bend; any muscle that flezes or bends a joint; flexion.
259
foramen:
(L) forare, foro, to pierce; a natural opening or passageway in bone, fascia, vessels, or nerves; to pass through (ex., oburator foramen).
260
fossa:
(L) fovea, pit or hollow; (Fr) fodere, to dig. Any hollow depression in bone.
261
fracture:
(L) fractura, a break; (fr) frangere, to break.
262
ganglion:
(G) ganglia, a knot, mass, tumor swelling.
263
gastrocnemius:
(G) gaster, belly + kneme, leg. refers to the large superficial calf muscle of the posterior lower limb.
264
gemellus:
(L) for twin; one of two muscles inserted in the oburator internus tendon.
265
Genu-:
(L) to bend. Geniculum referred to a not or node. (G) gony, gonu, knee; genu recurvatum, valgus, and varus.
266
gladiolus:
(L) dim. of gladius, a sword; main part of sternum.
267
glenoid:
(G) glene, shallow socket + oeides, shape. Cup-shaped depression of scapula of shoulder.
268
glia:
(G) glue; supporting tissue of spinal cord.
269
guteal:
(G) gloutos, a rump, buttock; any rounded eminence; gluteus maximus.
270
gout:
(L) gutta, a drop, meaning poison falling drop by drop into a joint as a cause of pain and disease. Hippocrates described gout in the foot as podagra.
271
gracilis:
(L) thin, lean, slender; a muscle of the thigh.
272
hallux:
(G) hallus, allomai, to leap; (L) great toe, hallucis.
273
Hamate:
(L) hamatus, hamatum, hooklike process; hamate bone of wrist.
274
hamstring:
(A-S) ham, back of thigh; flexor tendons behind knee that stand out like cords.
275
hang nail:
(A-S) angnaegl, from ange, troublesome + naeagl, nail.
276
Hemiplegia:
(G) hemi-, half + plege, a stroke. Paralysis affecting one side of the body.
277
Histology:
(G) histos, woven web + logos, a treatise; histo refers to any woven material, a web, and in Homer, the sail of a ship. The tissue structure of an organism or part.
278
Humerus:
(L) ossa humeri that involved the scapula, clavicle, and humerus. Later changed to mean only upper arm bone.
279
hyaline:
(G) hyalos, glass; hyaloid, glasslike that denotes clear matrix (ex., hyaline cartilage of joint surface).
280
hyoid:
(G) U-shaped; from greek letter upsilon.
281
idopathic:
(G) idios, own, peculiar to oneself + pathos, disease. Refers to a condition or disease state without known cause.
282
index:
(L) from dico, to point out, a pointer; hence, the forefinger (pl. indices)
283
ilium:
(L) flank, from ilia, soft parts, because the iliac bone supports the gut. It is the wide portion of the pelvis.
284
incarnatus:
to grow, as to grow a fingernail or toenail.
285
infection:
(L) infectum, from ingicere, to taint or tinge; to alter by invasion of a pathogenic agent, to infect.
286
inflammation:
(L) inflammatic, from inflammare, to burn, or flame within. in the eighteenth century, Sauvages introduced suffix -itis to refer to inflammation.
287
infrapatellar:
(L) infra-, prefix for below, under + patellar; knee cap.
288
infraspinatus:
(L) infra-, beneath + spina, thorn; beneath scapular spine.
289
innervation:
(L) in, into + nervus, a nerve. Reciprocal innervation refers to muscles moving a joint.
290
innominate:
(L) innominatus, from in, without + nomen, name. GIven to three bones of the pelvis where compound bone was not named.
291
insertion:
(L) in, into + serere, to plant. Place of attachment of muscle into bone which it moves.
292
in situ:
(L) in position, in original place.
293
interossei:
inter, between + ossei, bone; situated between bone, such as specific muscle of the hands and feet, muscle, ligaments, or vessels.
294
intramedullary:
(L) within + medullaris, marrow. Within marrow cavity of bone.
295
intrinsic:
(L) intrinsecus, situated inside; thus intrinsic muscles have their origin and insertion entirely within a structure and thereby are limited to it.
296
insertion:
(L0 in, into + serere, ti plant. Place of attachment of muscle into bone that it moves.
297
interstitial:
lying between; spaces within an organ or tissue.
298
in toto:
(L) as a whole.
299
inversion:
(L) in, into + ventere, to turn; to turn foot inward at the ankle.
300
in vitro:
(L) in a glass, as in a test tube.
301
in vivo:
(L) in the living body or organism; a test performed on living organisms.
302
involucrum:
from volvere, to wrap; a covering of newly formed bone enveloping the sequestrum in infection of bone.
303
ischemic:
(G) isch, to keep back + aemia, blood. Deficiency of blood to a part, ischemia.
304
ischium:
(G) ischion, hip, meaning strength; lowermost bone of innominate bone forming the bony pelvis.
305
joint:
(L) junctura, junctio, from jungere, to join; the point of articulation between two bone.
306
juxtaposition:
(L) near, close proximity + positio, place. Adjacent to or side by side.
307
kinematics:
(G) keinematos, movement; refers to biomechanics and muscle movements.
308
knuckle:
(Ger) knokel; (L) articulus, joint segement. Prominence of distal heads of the metacarpals or dorsal aspect of any of the phalangeal joints.
309
Kyphosis:
(G) kypho, hump + -osis, condition. Convex prominence of spine.
310
Lacuna:
(L) a pit, hollow space; refers to microscopic resorption areas in bone, cartilage, or cementum. Lacunula, small or minute lacuna.
311
Lamella:
(L) a little plate, dim. of lamina; laying of bone or ground substance of osseous tissue situated in places within bone.
312
Lamina:
(L) flat plate; refers to flattened part of either side of the vertebral arch when used alone.
313
Latissimus:
(L) latus, broad; refers to latissimus dorsi back sheath muscle.
314
leio:
(G) leios, smooth; prefix that refers to muscles.
315
lepto:
(G) leptos, slender ( ex., leptodactyly, abnomrally slim fingers).
316
levator:
(L) levo, to lift, raise a part; refers to levator musculi.
317
Ligamentum:
(L) ligare, to tie, bind + mentum, a bandage. Fibrous band of tissue connecting articular ends of bone serving to bind them together to facilitate or limit motion, or to support viscera.
318
limbus:
(L) edge, fibrocartilaginous rim of a joint; refers to glenoid ( shoulder) and acetabulum (hip).
319
Linea aspera:
(L) linea, line + aspera, rough. Roughened ridge on femur for insertion of adductus group of muscle.
320
lipos:
(G) lipos, fat; lipoid, resembling fat.
321
lordosis:
(G) lordo, curved, to bend; an exaggeration of normal forward convexity in the lumbar region of the spine.
322
lumbar
(L) lumbus, loin; refers to lumbar region.
323
lumbrical:
(L) lumbricus, worm; refers to the four small, wormlike muscles of the palm of the hand and foot.
324
lunate
(L) luna, moon; crescent-shaped bone in wrist.
325
lunula:
(L) dim. of luna; refers to half-moon-shaped white are at base of nail.
326
lupus:
(L) wolf; named for gradual skin disease, lupus erythematosus.
327
luxation:
(G) luxation, dislocation, from luxo, to dislocate; subluxate is a partial dislocation.
328
lymph:
(L) lympha, water; clear, transparent fluid found in lymphatic vessels.
329
Magnum:
(L) large or great; capitate bone, formerly called os magnum, the largest of carpal bones.
330
malacia:
(G) malakia, softening; as of abnormal tissue softening.
331
malaise:
(Fr) discomfort; indisposed, not well.
332
malleolus:
(L) malleus, small hammer; refers to bony eminences on either side of the ankle. mandible; (L) mandibula, horseshoe-shaped bone of lower jaw.
333
manubrium:
(L) a handle, from manus, hand + hibrium or hebeo, to hold. Named for uppermost part of the sternum (manubrium sterni) that is similar to the handle of a sword.
334
manus:
(L) the hand; (G) cheir.
335
marrow:
(A-S) mearh, unkown origin; (L) medulla. The spinal cord was formerly called the spinal marrow ( fourtheenth c.) Now, any soft central part of bone.
336
matrix:
(L) mater, mother tissue; refers to intercullular substance of tissue, the formative portion of a structure.
337
maxilla:
(L) upper jaw; paired bone w/ several processes.
338
mediastinum:
(L) medius, middle + stare, to stand; taken from per medium tensum, that which is tight down the middle. (The term is applied to partitions and in no way is connected to the word mediastinus of Latin origin.)
339
medicine:
(L) medicina, the art of healing; medicor meant to heal or cure. From 13th century, medicus applied to anyone associated with the art of healing in the care and treatment of patients.
340
medullary:
(L) medullaris, marrow, from medius,middle (medioossis); refers to the medullary cavity, medulla.
341
menings
(L) meninx, a membrane; refers to membranes investing the spinal cord and brain.
342
-melia:
(G) melos, limb; refers to absence of a limb (ex., hemimelia).
343
meniscus:
(G) meniskos, crescent-shaped, dim. of mene, moon; the medial and lateral crescent-shaped intraarticular fibrocartilage in the knee
344
metabolic:
Metaballein, to change; refers to metabolism
345
Metacarpus:
(G) meta, beyond + karpus, wrist. Five bony rays distal to the wrist.
346
Metaphysis:
(G) meta beyond + physis, growth. The line of junction of the epiphysis and diaphysis.
347
metaplasia:
(G) meta, beyond + plasia, to form. Virchow described connective tissue groups changes into another tissue of the same group, such as cartilage into bone.
348
metatarsal
(G) meta, beyond + tarsos, ankle. Five bony rays distal to the tarsal bones of the foot.
349
mnemonic:
(G) memory, a very old system for remembering, dateing back to 477bc.
350
monostotic:
(G) mon, single + osteon, bone; refers to a single bone.
351
mucous:
(L) muco, slimy exudate from membrane.
352
muscle:
(L) little mouse, dim. of mus, mouse and (G) myo; probably derived from the way muscles move under the skin.
353
myo-
(G) muscle; prefix denoting relationship to muscle.
354
myelos-:
(G) marrow, the pith of plants; refers to the marrow cavity of the spinal cord.
355
navicular:
(L) navicula, little boat, dim. of navis, a ship; boat-shaped structure hollowed out in form. Both navicular and scaphoid are used for the boat-shaped carpal and tarsal bones.
356
necrosis:
(G) nekrosis, state of death; sequestrum of bone, sloughing of soft tissue. Insufficient blood supply to a part resulting in death of tissue.
357
nerve:
(L) nervus, sinew and (G) neuron, sinew; refers to the nerve cell.
358
neurolemma:
(G) neuro, nerve + lemma, sheath, husk. A thin membranous sheath covering a nerve fiber.
359
neuroma:
(G) neuron, formerly any type of tumor composed of nerve cells.
360
nodule:
(L) nodulus, a knot; refers to a small node or collection of cells.
361
nuchae:
(L) nucha, back of neck; refers to neck area.
362
nucleus:
(L) nux, nut, a little nut; the central part of a cell.
363
obturator:
(L) obturare/ obturo, to stop up, obstruct, or occlude; a membrane that covers an opening (ex., Obturator foramen.)occult:
364
occult:
(L) from occulere, to hide or cover; occultus, hidden, concealed.
365
odontoid:
(G) ondon, tooth + oid, resembles; toothlike process of the 2nd cervical vertebra.
366
olecranon:
(G) olenes kranon, kranos, helmet, olekranon, point of the elbow; elbow process at the proximal end of ulna
367
omo- :
(G) omos, shoulder; prefix used in combining form (ex., omovertebral).
368
omohyoid:
(G) omos, shoulder + hyoeides, U-shaped.Shoulder muscle formerly called omohyoid because the muscle was attached to the scapula at one end and the hoyoid bone at the other.
369
onco:
(G) onkos, bulk, mass; prefix used in combining form ( ex., oncogene, a gene associated with tumors.)
370
onychia:
(G) onychos, onyx, nail; (L) unguis. Inflammation of the nailed bed.
371
opponens:
(L) opposing; applied to the muscles of the hand and foot (ex., thumb opposed to other digits).
372
organ:
(G) organon, (L) organum, viscus, viscera.
373
orifice:
(L) orificium, a natural opening.
374
Orthopaedic:
(G) orthos, straight + paes, a child. Literally means straightening of children. First introduced in 1741 by Nicholas Andry, french physician , who published the first book on orrthopaedics. He proposed to prevent and correct deformities in children by exercise, diet, and mechanical means. His was the first work specifcally devoted to the subject.
375
os:
(L) os, ossis, bone; ossicle, ossiculum, small bone.
376
ossification:
(L) os, bone + facere, to make. Process of bone formation.
377
osteoblast:
(G) osteo, bone + blast, a germ or sprout. A bone-producing cell.
378
osteoclast:
(G) osteo, bone + klasis, to break up. Concerned with absorption and removal of unwanted tissue.
379
osteogenesis:
(G) osteo, bone + genesis, origin. Bone production.
380
osteophyte:
(G) osseo, bone + phyte, outgrowth; bony excrescence branched in shape.
381
pain:
(L) poena, a fine, a penalty.
382
palmaris:
(L) palm, hand; palmaris longus and brevis muscles of hand.
383
palpate:
(L) palpare, palpabilis, to touch; perceptible by feel, touch.
384
palsy:
(Fr) paralysie, (ME) parlesie; term palsy appeared in 1300.
385
paralysis:
(G) para, besides + lysis, to loosen, paralyein, to disable. Disabling limb condition.
386
paraplegia: .
(G) para, besides + plegia, a stroke. Formerly meant stricken on one side, and now refers to paralysis of both limbs and maybe the trunk
387
paratenon:
para, around + tenon, tendon; fatty tissue surrounding tendon to fill in spaces.
388
paresis:
(G) parienai, to let fall or pass; referred to muscle weakening and now includes partial paralysis.
389
pars:
(L) a part of a larger structure; the pars interarticularis bridges the spine between articular facets.
390
paronychia:
(G) para, besides + nychia, a nail. Refers to infection of marginal area of nail.
391
patella:
(L) a saucer, small pan, dim. of patera, a round plate, and patere, to lie open or exposed; the kneecap.
392
patency:
(L) patens, open, evident.
393
pathology
: (G) pathema, disease + logos, word, reason. Study of the nature and cause of disease.
394
pectineus:
(L) pecten, comb; muscle that flexes and adducts the thigh.
395
pectoralis:
(L) from pectus, the breast; ancient term for an ornamental breast plate that was later included in medicine to mean the pectoralis major and minor muscles of the chest.
396
pedicle:
(L) pes, pedis, foot, and pediculus, a little foot, stem; referred to stalks of plants originally, and later to structures of anatomy.
397
pelvis:
(L) a basin, (G) tub or wooden bowl; any basin-shaped structure or cavity. Named for the large three innominate bones.
398
periosteum:
(G) peri, around + osteon, bone. Hard protective fibrous membrane covering bone.
399
peritoneum:
(G) peri, around + teinein, to stretch. Serous membrane that supports the abdominal cavity.
400
peroneal:
(G) perone, pin, sewing needle, anything pointed for piercing; (L) fibula, brooch. Peroneal relates to the fibula; peroneus, perone, relates to one of three muscles of the leg causing motion of the foot.
401
pes:
(L) pedis, a foot or footlike projection; applied to different structures such as pes cavus (hollow), pes planus (flat), pes anserinus (goose foot).
402
phalanges:
(G) phalanx, a band of soldiers; (L) internodia, because joints of fingers and toes were called nodes in close knit row. Refers to the distal, medial, and proximal phalanges of the hands and feet; phalanx, line.
403
Phlebo-:
(G) phleps, phlebos, vein; combining form for vein.
404
physician:
(Fr) physicien; one who has successfully completed a prescribed course of studies in medicine.
405
physio:
(G) prefix for nature.
406
physis:
(G) phyein, to generate growth; portion of long bone involved in growth (e.g., diaphysis and epiphysis).
407
Pia:
(L) soft, thin vascular membrane investing the brain and spinal cord; innermost of the three meninges (dura mater, pia mater, arachnoid).
408
pinna:
a static, winglike projection.
409
piriformis:
(L) pirun, a pear + forma, shape; piriformis muscle.
410
pisiform:
(L) pisum, pea + forma, shape. Pea-shaped bone of wrist and smallest of carpal bones, proximal row, ulnar side.
411
placebo:
(L) for shall please; an inactive agent designed to appear the same as an active therapeutic agent.
412
plantar:
(L) planta, sole of foot, and (G) platus, planus, flat; from (L) plantaris, a sprout, twig, plant.
413
plaster:
(G) emplastron, to form, mold. Hippocrates and Galen wrote extensively on the subject. Pliny described it in making casts. Originally, bandages were made of starch and paste, lime, and egg white. The gypsum variety was made in Paris, thus plaster of Paris.
414
-plasty:
(G) suffix meaning to form or fashion.
415
pleura:
(G) a rib. Now applied to serous membrane lining the chest wall.
416
plexus:
(L) a braid, plait, entanglement; a complex, especially of blood and lymphatic vessels, and nerves (e.g., brachial plexus).
417
plica:
(L) plicae, a fold; a fold, pleat, band or shelf of synovial membrane that projects into a joint cavity.
418
pollicis:
(L) thumb, from polleo, strong; (pl. pollices); refers to the pollicis longus and brevis of the hand (formerly called pollex).
419
popliteal:
(L) poples, the ham; ancient term from plicare, to fold. Refers to the popliteus muscle behind the knee between the hamstrings that flexes the leg and aids in rotation.
420
prima fasciae:
(L) according to first appearance before final examination.
421
prima fasciae:
(L) according to first appearance before final examination.
422
profundus:
(L) deep seated; refers to source located deeper than indicated reference point (e.g., profundus tendon). Opposite of sublimis.
423
prognosis:
(G) foreknowledge, prediction of course of disease and recovery.
