A-band abb. of anisotropic
band G. anisos = unequal + tropos = turning;
meaning having not equal properties in every direction;
transverse bands in living skeletal muscle which rotate the
plane of polarised light, cf. I-band.
Abbé, Ernst. 1840-1905. German
physicist; mathematical analysis of optics as a basis for
constructing better microscopes; devised oil immersion lens;
Abbé condenser.
absorption L. absorbere = to
suck up.
acervulus L. = sand, gritty; brain
sand (cf. psammoma body).
acetylcholine an ester of choline
found in many tissue, synapses & neuromuscular junctions, where
it is a neural transmitter.
acetylcholinesterase enzyme at
motor end-plate responsible for rapid destruction of
acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter.
acidophilic adj. L. acidus =
sour + G. philein = to love; affinity for an acidic dye,
such as eosin staining cytoplasmic proteins.
acinus (-i) L. = a juicy
berry, a grape; applied to small, rounded terminal secretory
units of compound exocrine glands that have a small lumen (adj.
acinar).
acrosome G. akron =
extremity + soma = body; head of spermatozoon.
actin polymer protein
filament found in the intracellular cytoskeleton, particularly
in the thin (I-) bands of striated muscle.
adenohypophysis G. ade = an
acorn + hypophyses = an undergrowth; anterior lobe of
hypophysis (cf. pituitary).
adenoid G. " + -oeides = in
form of; in the form of a gland, glandular; the pharyngeal
tonsil.
adipocyte L. adeps = fat (of
an animal) + G. kytos = a container; cells responsible
for storage and metabolism of lipids, found in white fat and
brown fat.
adipose adj. L. adeps = fat
+ G. osis = a condition of.
adluminal adj. L. ad =
towards + lumen = a hole; adjacent to lumen.
adnexa L. ad = to + nexus
= bound; accessory parts of a structure, e.g., the adnexa of the
eye.
adrenal L. ad = to, at +
ren = kidney; the suprarenal gland.
adrenergic adj. L. " + " + G.
ergon = work; applied to nerves which release "noradrenalin"
(norepinephrine) at their terminals.
adventitia L. adventicius =
coming from the outside; outermost connective tissual covering
of an organ, e.g., the outer coat of a blood vessel is its
tunica adventitia.
afferent adj. L. ad = to +
ferre = to bear, carry, produce; passing towards,
centripetal, e.g., sensory nerves are afferent nerves with
respect to the brain and spinal cord; afferent arteriole of the
renal glomerulus.
agranulocyte L. a = without;
a white blood cell without large numbers of cytoplasmic granules
but containing some azurophilic granules, e.g., monocyte,
lymphocyte.
albicans adj. L. = whitish; e.g.,
corpus albicans (corpora albicantia) of the ovary.
albuginea adj. L. albus =
white; firm white fibrous tissue, e.g., near the surface of the
testis or ovary (first used to describe aqueous humour, then
sclera, of eye).
Alcian blue commercial name for dye
indicating mucins.
aldehyde fuschin purple dye for
elastin.
alimentary L. alimentum =
nourishment.
alpha cell acidophilic cell of
adenohypophysis; acidophilic cell secreting glucagon of
pancreatic islets of Langerhans
alveolus (-i) L. = a small
hollow, basin or flask (dim. of alveus = a belly, tub);
applied to air-cell in lungs; large terminal secretory units of
some exocrine glands with relatively thin walls (cf. acinus);
tooth socket; adj. alveolar.
amacrine G. a = without +
makros = long; a cell in the inner nuclear layer of retina
without a long (axonal) process.
ameloblast OF. esmail =
enamel + G. blastos = germ; cell giving rise to tooth
enamel.
amitosis G. a = without +
mitos = thread; direct cell division without appearance of
visible chromosomes.
amnion G. Amnion = nickname
for a goddess of childbirth: Eileithyia of Amnisus (or Amnias),
which was the port of the land of Knossos in Crete; amnion
is also Greek for a little lamb; inner of the fetal membranes
forming a thin sac around embryo or fetus, and subsequently
fusing with chorion.
amoeboid G. amiobe = change
+ -oeides = form of; having motion like an amoeba, a
protozoon which continually changes its shape; of the movements
of a leucocyte.
amorphous G. a = not +
morphe = form; lacking structural definition.
ampulla L. ampla = full +
bulla = vase; a jar or flask; a local widening in a tube;
duodenal ampulla of Vater, q.v.
amylacea cf. corpus amylaceum.
anaphase G. ana = up, back,
again + phasis = phase, stage; mitotic phase where
chromatids separate.
anastomosis G. " + stoma =
an opening; natural communication between two vessels (adj.
anastomotic).
androgen G. andros = man +
gennan = to produce; male hormone.
aneuploidy G. an = without +
eu = good + ploos = folded + -oeides =
shape of; of a cell nucleus with more or less than the correct
diploid number of chromosomes.
angiology G. angeion = a
vessel + logos = study; first used to describe a surgical
procedure for exposing temporal artery; later, the study of
blood vessels.
Angström, Anders Jonas.
1814-1879. Swedish physicist; unit of measurement; 1 Angström
(symbol Å) = 0.1 nanometer.
aniline blue A. anil, indigo
plant; dye for collagen etc.
anisotropic G. anisos =
unequal + tropos = a turning; having properties that are
not the same in all directions; able to change the plane of
polarization of light.
anlage (-n) Ge. an = on +
legen = to lay, place; a primordium; an incipient structure.
ansa nephronis L. ansa =
bucket handle, sandle loop + nephronis = of a nephron;
hair-pin bend in the straight tubules of a nephron of the
kidney; cf. Henle; also ansa subclavia; ansa hypoglossi.
ansa subclavia L. = sympathetic
nerve loop passing anterior and posterior to subclavian artery.
antrum (-ra) L. = a cave, cavity; a
nearly-closed cavity or bulge.
anulus (or annulus) L. = a
little ring, dim. L. anus; a finger-ring; the fourth
finger itself.
anulus fibrosus (anuli fibrosi or
annuli fibrosi) L. = little ring of fibres; lamellae of
collagen fibres surrounding nucleus pulposus of intervertebral
disc.
aorta G. aeiro = I lift up
(something), then G. aorter = the strap of a knapsack
hung from the shoulders; a butcher's "pluck" of thoracic
viscera; largest artery of the thorax (the heart being like a
sac, and the aorta, a strap).
apical adj. L. = apex, tip.
apocrine G. apo = from, away
+ krinein = to separate; budding-off of apical cytoplasm
in secretory cells.
aponeurosis G. " + neuron =
tendon, sinew (later, nerve); an expanded flat connective tissue
sheet to which muscle fibres are attached (Galen, 180)
apoptosis G. apo = from +
ptosis = a falling off (of a leaf); naturally occurring cell
death; adj. apoptotic (second p is silent).
appendix testis L. ab = from
+ pendere = to hang + testis = of the testis;
hydatid of Morgagni, q.v.
appendix vermiformis L.
ab = from + pendere = to hang + vermis = worm
+ forma = form; a worm-shaped attachment at the beginning
of the large intestine.
appendices epiploicae L. " + G.
epiploon = a net; small pockets of peritoneum filled with
fat attached to the colon; cf. epiploic.
apposition L. ad = to +
ponere = to set, place; placed in contiguity; juxtaposition.
appositional growth L. " ; growth
on a pre-existing surface; growth at periphery.
APUD amine-precursor
uptake and decarboxylation; class of endocrine
cells.
aqueous humour L. aqua =
water + humour = fluid; fluid of low viscosity in
anterior and posterior chambers of eye.
arachnoid adj. G. arachne =
spider + -oeides = form; resembling a web; first applied
to scum on urine; applied to cobweb-like middle layer of the
three meninges of the brain (Amsterdam, 1664).
arachnoid granulations protrusions
of arachnoid into superior sagittal sinus whereby cerebrospinal
fluid can pass into the blood, cf. Pacchionian bodies.
arbor vitae L. arbor = tree
+ vitae = of life; cedar tree; the white matter seen in a
median section of the cerebellum.
arbor vitae uteri cf. palmate folds
(of uterine cervical canal).
arborisation from L. arbor =
tree; branching as in a tree.
area cribrosa L. area = a
space + cribrum = a sieve; surface of renal papilla
perforated by papillary ducts of Bellini, q.v.; cf. cribriform.
areola corruption of L. aureolus
= golden; pigmented area around nipple of breast.
areolar L. areola = a small
open space (dim. of L. area = a space); loose, as in loose
connective tissue.
argentaffin L. argentum =
silver + affinis = associated with; of cells which can
reduce silver from its salts without special pretreatment; e.g.,
some entero-endocrine cells producing serotonin.
argyrophilic G. argyros =
silver + philein = to love; of cells or structures
reducing silver from its salts after special pretreatment with a
reducing agent; e.g., reticular fibres.
arrector pili (arrectores pilorum)
L. arrector = raiser + pilus = hair; autonomically
innervated smooth muscles oriented obliquely in dermis, creating
"gooseflesh".
artefact L. arte = by art +
factus = made; inadvertent abnormality in tissue arising
during histological processing; also artifact.
arteriole a small artery,
q.v.
artery G. aer = air +
terein = to keep; hence L. arteria = windpipe;
arteries after death often were seen to be empty of blood, i.e.,
to contain air.
articular L. articulatus = a
little joint (dim. of L. artus = a joint); of cartilage
covering the surface of bones at synovial joints.
Asselli, Gaspar. 1581-1626.
Pavia anatomist, surgeon; discoverd lacteals in 1622 during
vivisection of a dog.
astrocyte G. astron = a
constellation, a single star + kytos = hollow vessel
(cell); star-shaped neuroglial cell.
atavistic L. atavus = great
grandfather's grandfather, ancestor.
atelectasis G. a = without +
telos = completion, end + ektasis = expansion;
imperfect expansion, collapsed condition of lungs.
atresia G. a = without +
tresis = perforation; refers to a congenital absence or
closure of a normal opening.
atretic follicle an ovarian
follicle that fails to mature and dies.
atrophy G. a = without +
trophe = food; a wasting or reduction in organ size.
Auerbach, Leopold. 1828-1897.
Breslau neuropathologist & anatomist; Auerbach's nerve plexus in
external muscle layer of intestinal wall (1862).
autolysis G. auto = self +
lysis = dissolution; self-digestion of cells, tissues.
autonomic G. " + nomos =
law; self-controlling part of nervous system.
Avicenna 980-1073. Arabian
physician; celebrated author whose book Al-qanun fi 't-tibb
(Canon medicinae) was used in European universities until
about 1650
axis cylinder neurite (q.v.) or
axon (q.v.) of a nerve cell.
axon G. = axis; neurite or long
process of a neurone, usually conducting efferent nerve signals
from the cell body (soma) to the peripheral terminals of the
cell; contains axoplasm.
axon hillock cone-shape region of
the neuronal soma from which the axon arises.
Azure a commercial name for a type
of blue dye.
azurophilic OF. azur = blue
+ G. philein = to love; refers to reddish-purple granules
in some leucocytes when stained by Romanowsky method.
bacterium (-ia) G.
bakterion = a rod.
Baillarger, Jules Gabriel
François. 1806-1890. French neurologist; striae of Baillarger
are two bands of fibres in grey matter of cerebral cortex
running parallel to its surface; cf. Gennari.
Barr, Murray. 1908- ? Canadian
anatomist; B. body = intranuclear satellite = sex-chromatin mass
seen in a certain proportion of the cells of a female.
Bartholin, Thomas. 1616-1680.
Danish mathematician and philosopher, doctor in Basel, anatomist
at Cophenhagen; discovered thoracic duct and lymphatic system in
1653; wrote a textbook of anatomy.
Bartholin, Casper. 1655-1738 (son
of Thomas). Philosopher professor, then Deputy of Finances
(civil service) in Copenhagen; Bartholin's mucous glands of
vestibule and labia minora in female reproductive system (1677).
basal body G. basis = base;
the root of a cilium.
basal lamina G. basis = base
+ L. lamina = thin plate; term for a layer seem in the
electron microscope of thick glycocalyx at base of epithelial
cells; a sublayer of the basement membrane.
basement membrane histological term
for extracellular layer at base of epithelium, seen in the light
microscope after use of certain dyes; includes basal lamina;
constitutes the interface between epithelium and connective
tissue.
basilic A. al-basiliq = vein
on inner aspect of arm (G. basilikos = royal, hence
prominent?); vein used for blood-letting.
basket cell a type of cell
partially enclosing another like a basket; e.g., stellate
myo-epithelial cells enclosing an acinus of a gland; cerebellar
nerve cells whose branches form a basket around the Purkinje
cells.
basophil type of leucocyte
characterised by basophilic cytoplasmic granules.
basophilic G. basis = base +
philein = to love; affinity for a basic dye, e.g.
haematoxylin, gallocyanin, toluidine blue.
Bellini, Lorenzo. 1643-1704.
Mathematician, anatomist at Pisa; terminal collecting tubules of
B. in kidney (1662).
Berengarius of Carpi. 1470-1530.
Anatomist at Bologna & Pavia; described pineal gland and
sphenoidal air sinuses.
Bernard, Claude. 1813-1878.
Sorbonne physiologist; suggested idea of internal secretions and
established science of endocrinology; developed concept of
constancy of internal environment of body (milieu interne).
Bertin, Exupère Joseph.
1712-1781. French anatomist; renal columns of Bertin; conchae of
sphenoid bone.
beta cell basophilic cell of
adenohypohysis; basophilic cell secreting insulin of pancreatic
islets of Langerhans.
Betz, Vladimir
Alexandrovich. 1834-1894. Kiev anatomist; Betz cells are large
pyramidal cells in 5th layer of motor cortex (1874), giving rise
to a small number of fibres in the pyramidal tract.
Bichat, Marie François Xavier.
1771-1802. Paris anatomist, a founder of histology;
classification of 23 basic tissues; Bichat's tunica intima; B's
internal elastic lamina; B's fat pad in cheek.
bicornuate L. bis = twice +
cornua = horns; uterus with 2 horns found in many
animals, and occasionally in woman.
bicuspid L. bis = twice +
cuspis = a point; of lymphatic valves, mitral valve,
premolar tooth.
Bielschowsky, Max.
1869-1940. Berlin neurologist; developed staining and silver
impregnation techniques for histological study of nervous
system.
bifurcate L. bis = twice +
furca = fork; divide into two branches.
bile L. bilus = bile; cf.
choledochus.
Billroth, C.A. Theodor.
1829-1894 Austrian surgeon; B.'s cords = the components of red
pulp occurring between the venous sinuses of the spleen.
bipolar cell L. bis = twice
+ polus = pole; nerve cell with two processes, one being
a neurite (q.v.) and the other, a dendrite (q.v.). NB. all
sensory nerve cells of the embryo are initally bipolar, becoming
pseudounipolar (q.v.) with growth, except for the
vestibulocochlear ganglion cells.
blastema G. = a sprout; embryonic
tissue giving rise to a particular structure; an anlage, q.v.
body cavity a coelom, q.v.
body wall the part of the body
which surrounds a coelom, q.v.; paries, q.v.
Boerhaave, Hermann.
1668-1738. Leiden physician; sweat glands; wrote famous textbook
Istitutiones medicae (1708).
Botallo, Leonardo. 1530-?
Pavia anatomist, surgeon; duct of B. = ductus arteriosus.
bouton terminal (boutons
terminaux) F. = terminal button or knob; bulb-like expansion
at a synapse of the tip of an axon.
Bowman, William (Sir). 1816-1892.
London physician, anatomist & ophthalmologist; B's capsule and
B.'s space of renal corpuscle (1842); B's elastic membrane of
anterior corneal epithelium (1847).
brain sand acervulus, q.v.;
corpora arenaceum, q.v.; psammoma bodies, q.v.
Broca, Pierre Paul.
1824-1880. Paris surgeon, pathologist, anthropologist; B's
convolution = area for motor speech is posterior part of
inferior frontal gyrus of left hemisphere (1861).
Brodmann, Korbinian.
1868-1918. Armenian anatomist; described 52 allegedly discrete
areas of human cerebral cortex by transferring results of
studies in monkey brain to human.
bronchiole L. bronchiolus =
small bronchus; air passage in lung.
bronchus (-i) G. bronchos
= windpipe; later, branches of the trachea.
Brown, Robert. 1773-1858 British
Museum botanist; described nucleus of plant cells; Brownian
movement.
Bruch, Karl Wilhelm Ludwig.
1819-1884. Anatomist at Basle & Giessen; B's membrane = glassy
basement membrane of the retinal (pigment) epithelium (1844);
lymphatic follicles of palpebral conjunctiva.
Brücke, Ernst Wilhelm von.
1819- 1892 Vienna physiologist and microscopic
anatomist; B.'s muscle = meridional fibres of ciliary muscle.
Brunn, Albert von. 1849-1895 German
anatomist; B's membrane = the olfactory epithelium; B.'s
cell nests = glandlike invaginations of epithelium forming cell
masses, or cell pearls, in lower urinary tract.
Brunner, Johann Konrad. 1653-1727.
Professor of Medince at Heidelberg; B's glands = compound
mucus-secreting glands of duodenal submucosa (1687).
brush border term of light
microscopy for taller (coarser) microvilli, e.g., on kidney
tubule cells; cf. striated border.
buccal L. bucca = cheek;
related to cheek or mouth.
buccinator L. buccina =
trumpet; muscle which prevents the vestibule of the mouth being
distended in trumpet playing.
buffer Mid. Eng. buffe = to
deaden the shock of; applied to a substance which when added to
an acid or a base, preserves the hydrogen ion concentration.
bulbar L. bulbus = a swollen
root; of eye-ball; of urethra; of olfactory tract; of aorta; of
a hair; of embryonic heart.
Burdach, Karl Friedrich.
1776-1847. Anatomist at Dorpat, Königsberg & Breslau; B's column
= cuneate fasciculus of spinal cord (1819).
bursa (-ae) L. from G. = a
leather sac, a purse; a sac associated with tendons or muscles,
containing synovial fluid.
Cajal, Santiago Ramon y.
1852-1934. Anatomist at Valencia, histologist at Madrid; shared
Nobel Prize in 1906 with Golgi,q.v. for comprehensive work on
the histology of the nervous system using the Golgi impregnation
technique.
calcification L. calx = lime
+ facere = to make.
calcitonin calcium + L. tonus
= a stretching, a strengthening; hormone of thyroid C-cells
which elevates blood calcium levels.
calculus (-i) L. = a little
stone, a peeble (dim. L. calx = stone); applied to stones
that form in gall bladder, kidney, ureter, salivary glands,
pancreas, etc.
calix or calyx (-ices)
G. kalyx = cup; applied to any cup-shaped structure.
calvaria L. calvus = bald;
the vault of the skull.
Camper, Petrus. 1722-1789 Professor
of Medicine, Anatomy, Surgery & Botany in Gronningen;
C.'s fascia = superficial layer of superficial fascia of skin of
abdomen (1801).
canaliculus (-i) L. = a small
channel (L. canalis = a channel, a water-pipe; dim.L.
canna = a reed).
cancellous adj. L. cancellus
= lattice; of spongy bone with numerous interconnecting
cavities.
canine L. canis = dog; tooth
shaped like dog's fang; a unicuspid tooth.
canthus G. canthos = metal
rim on a wooden wheel; later, the rim of the eyelids; the angle
at either end (i.e., nasal = inner, and temporal = outer) of the
slit between the eyelids.
capillary L. capillus = hair
(from L. capitis pilus = hair of the head); a very narrow
("hair-like") blood vessel.
capillus L. = a hair (of scalp).
capsule L. capsula = a
little box (dim. L. capsa = a box, from L. capio =
I receive).
cardia G. kardia = heart;
adj. cardiac; as a noun, cardia = entrance to stomach.
cardinal adj. L. cardo = a
hinge; on which something important hinges; cardinal veins of
embryo; cf. duct of Cuvier.
caries L. = decay; gradual decay of
a tooth or bone.
carina L. = a keel; last ring of
trachea has a keel-like projection in the fork between the
bronchi.
carmine a red dye.
carneae L. carneus = fleshy;
trabeculae carneae, q.v.
carotid G. karoein = to send
to sleep, stupefy; compression of carotid arteries believed by
Aristotle (c. 350 BC) to cause coma.
cartilage L. cartilago =
gristle; adj. cartilaginous (Celsus, c. 10 AD).
caruncle L. caruncula =
small fleshy mass (dim. L. caro = flesh); a small fleshy
elevation of epithelium, e.g., lacrimal caruncle, q.v.;
sublingual caruncle; urethral caruncle; accessory pancreatic
caruncle of Santorini, q.v.
caveola (-ae) from L. cavus
= a hollow; small, pinocytotic depressions in plasma membrane.
cavernous adj. L. cavernosus
= containing hollow spaces.
cell L. cella = a small
room.
celloidin synthetic embedding
medium.
cementum L. = rough quarried stone;
modified bone between dentine and periodontal ligament in the
root of a tooth.
central artery a small artery (more
often, an arteriole) in the white pulp of the spleen.
central canal a small canal in
spinal cord filled with cerebrospinal fluid and lined by
ependyma, q.v.
central nervous system brain and
spinal cord; abb. CNS.
central vein smallest root of
hepatic vein, located in centre of an hepatic lobule.
centriole G. kentron = a
sharp point, centre + L. -olus = a dimuntive ending;
minute organelle at cell centre, involved in mitosis.
centro-acinar cell cell with
pale-staining cytoplasm at start of an intercalated duct in the
pancreatic acinus.
centrosome G. kentron = a
sharp point, centre + soma = body; pair of centrioles in
centre zone of a cell soma.
cephalic G. kephale = head,
from A. al-kifal; of vein in arm from which blood-letting
was thought to reduce headache.
cerebellum L. = little brain (dim.
of L. cerebrum = brain); largest part of hind-brain.
cerebral cortex L. cerebrum
= brain + cortex = rind; the grey matter of the
forebrain.
cerumen L. cera = wax;
sebaceous secretion of ear canal.
cervix (-ices) L. = the neck
(of an organ); e.g., cervix uteri = neck of uterus.
chelation G. chele = a claw;
binding of metal ions by heterocyclic ring compounds.
chief cells main cells; of the
stomach, those producing pepsinogen, q.v.; of the parathyroid;
those producing parathormone.
cholecystokinin G. chole =
bile + kystis = bladder + kinein,= to move; gut
hormone stimulating movement of bile from gall bladdder, and
exocrine pancreas activity.
choledochus G. chole = bile
+ dochos = receptacle; the bile duct (melancholy = black
bile).
chondroblast G. chondros =
cartilage + blastos = germ; immature cartilage cell.
chondrocyte G. " + kytos =
hollow vessel, monk's cell; mature cartilage cell.
chorion G. = skin, leather; outer
membrane of the conceptus, forming chorionic villi (Galen, c.
180 AD).
choroid or choroidea G. " +
-oeides = similar to; skin-like; brown vascular part of
eye coat (like a shell of a peeled grape); part of uvea, q.v.;
Haller's layer.
choroid plexus G. " + L.
plexus = woven; a network of blood vessels derived from pia
mater and covered by ependymal cells, projecting into ventricles
of brain (similar in appearance to the chorion).
chromaffin G. chroma =
colour + L. affinis = with affinity for; stained with
chromium salts; epinephrine-producing cells; para-aortic bodies
of Zuckerkandl.
chromatin G. chroma =
colour; material in cell nucleus staining strongly with basic
dyes.
chromatolysis G. " + lysis =
a lessening; loss of stainable Nissl substance in injured
neuronal somas.
chromatophore G. " + phorous
= bearing; pigment-containing cell.
chromophil G. " + philein =
to love; cells or granules taking up dye readily.
chromophobe G. " + phobos =
fear; cells or granules not taking up any dye readily.
chromosome G " + soma =
body; an intensely staining, discrete linear body containing
DNA, etc. in nucleus.
chyle G. chylos = juice;
milk-like contents of lacteals and intestinal lymphatics.
chylomicrons G. " + mikros =
small; small particles of fat in lacteals; visible in light
microscope.
chyme G. chymos = juice.
ciliary adj. L. ciliaris =
related to eyelash; also to bulbar ciliary body, q.v.
ciliary body thickened part of the
uvea of the eye at the base of the iris, consisitng of cilary
zonule and ciliary smooth muscle.
ciliary zonule the suspensory
ligament of the lens consisting of multiple fibres extending
from folds of ciliary body to capsule of lens; zonule of Zinn,
q.v.
cilium (-ia) L. = eyelash;
also hair-like projections on epithelial cells.
circumvallate adj. L. circum
= around + vallare = to wall; of largest lingual papilla,
surrounded by a moat-like depression.
cisterna (-ae) L. = a reservoir,
dilated sac; e.g., cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum in
muscle cells.
Clarke, Jacob Augustus
Lockhart 1817-1880; London physician; C.'s column = nucleus
dorsalis of grey matter of spinal cord (1851).
Claudius, Friedrich Matthias.
1822-1869. Kiel anatomist; cells of C. = sustentacular cells in
organ of Corti, q.v.
clavicle L. clavicula
= a little key, dim L. clavis = a key; from A. alchiab
= collar bone (Avicenna, c. 980 AD) locking shoulder-girdle to
body; Roman clavis was also an S-shaped metal bar used to
strike a doorbell or gong.
clearing process of making tissues
transparent through use of chemicals with similar refractive
index as specimens.
clitoris G. kleio = I close;
labia minora enclose clitoris; also G. kleitorizein = to
tickle; G. der Kitzler = the tickler (clitoris).
cochlea L. from G. kokhlos =
land-snail; cone of inner ear containing organ of Corti for
hearing; described by Fallopius (1552).
coeliac (celiac) G. koilia =
a belly; related to abdominal organs.
coelom G. koilos = a hollow,
belly; an internal sac; the single coelom inside the embryo
gives rise to the pleural, pericardial and peritoneal sacs of
the body lined by mesothelium.
Cohnheim, Julius Friedrich.
1839-1884 German experimental pathologist; described amoeboid
movement of leucocytes; C.'s fields or areas = polygonal
mosaic-like groups of myofibrils seen in cross-section of a
single skeletal muscle fibre; end artery (q.v.) of C.; also
fetal cells, dormant, persisting in adult organs.
collagen G. kolla = glue +
gennan = to produce; insoluble fibrous protein component
of almost all connective tissue; boiling it yields gelatine,
q.v.
collateral L. con = together
+ lateralis = of a side; accessory or accompanying branch
of something; side branch of a neurite or axon; branch of a
blood vessel.
colloid G. kolla = glue
+ -oeides = in form of; glutinous; of material in
thyroid follicles, or in pars intermedia of hypophysis.
colon G. kolon = large
intestine, possibly from G. koilos = empty (as is often
state of colon on dissection).
colostrum L. = thin yellow
secretion of mother's breast two to three days after childbirth;
also L. for a term of endearment.
Columbia jar a small jar for
staining sections, cf. Coplin jar.
Columbus, Realdus. 1516-1559
Italian anatomist; studied under Vesalius at Padua; professor in
Rome; discovered pulmonary circulation; described role of lens
correctly (previously lens was thought to function as the retina
does).
complement L. complere = to
complete; enzymatic proteins in serum combining with
antigen-antibody complex.
comitans L. = accompanying; e.g.,
venae comitantes = two or more small veins which often accompany
and artery.
conarium L. conus = a cone; the
pineal body, q.v.
concha L. = shell (of an oyster);
formerly, the pinna of the ear and external auditory meatus; the
three small bony projections on the lateral wall of the nasal
cavity.
concretion L. concretus =
solid + crescere = to grow; a calculus.
condenser L. con = with +
densare = to make thick; lens for focussing light on
specimen in a microscope.
cone terminal part of the dendrite
of a sensory neuron in the retina, responsible for perception of
colours.
conjunctiva L. barbarism from
con = with + jungere = to join; mucous membrane which
joins together the eyelid (palpebral) and the eyeball (bulbar).
Coplin jar staining jar holding
five standard slides.
copula L. = a link, from L.
copulare = to copulate; median elevation in floor of
embryonic pharynx uniting ventral ends of third pharyngeal
arches, cf. His (the elder).
corium L. = leather, skin; the
dermis, consisting of papillary & reticular components; tanning
corium of animals yields leather.
cornea L. corneus =
horn-like; outer layer of anterior segment of eyeball.
corneum L. " ; outer layer of
epidermis is the statum corneum.
cornified L. " ; conversion of
squamous epithelial cells to horny material (see keratin).
corona L. = crown; coronal plane, a
vertical plane dividing body into front and back (frontal
plane).
corona radiata 1. = radiating
fibres of the internal capsule of the brain; 2. = layer of cells
of cumulus oophorus remaining attached to zona pellucida of ovum
after ovulation.
corpora quadrigemina (cf. corpus)
L. = the four-fold bodies (strictly, the eight-fold bodies,
since L. quadri- = four + geminus = twin, double);
four oval masses in roof of midbrain, the upper two (superior
colliculi) being called the nates (= buttocks), the lower two
(inferior colliculi), the testes.
corpus (-ora) L. = body.
corpus albicans (corpora
albicantia) L. " + albicans = whitish; a degenerating
corpus luteum in ovary.
corpus amylaceum (corpora amylacea)
L. " + amylum = starch; starchy grains, or having the
structure of starch grains with concentric layers; found in
prostate gland (= prostatic concretions).
corpus arenaceum (corpora arenacea)
L. " + arena = sandy (floor of an arena); a particle of
brain sand.
corpus cavernosum (corpora
cavernosa) L. " + caverna = a hollow; penis has two
similar erectile structures, and a third corpus spongiosum, q.v.
corpus luteum L. " + luteum
= yellow; major endocrine organ which is the remains of ovarian
follicle after ovulation; yellow in ovary of cow where de Graaf
(q.v.) first saw it.
corpus spongiosum L. " +
spongiosa = spongy; erectile tissue surrounding urethra.
corpuscle L. corpusculum =
little body (dim. of L. corpus).
cortex (-ices) L. = rind, or
bark; outer layer of an organ.
Corti, Alfonso (Marquis). 1822-1888
Italian, anatomist with no academic post in Germany, Hyrtl's
prosector in Vienna; retired to become a viticulturalist in
Casteggio; organ of C. = spiral organ for sensory transduction
in cochlea (1851); membrane of C. = tectorial membrane, q.v.
coverglass or coverslip thin
disc or rectangle of glass to cover histological preparation for
light microscopy (e.g., Grade 1«
is 0.16 - 0.19 mm thick).
Cowper, William. 1666-1709 London
surgeon and anatomist. C.'s glands = bulbo-urethral glands
(1697).
cremaster muscle G. kremaster
= a suspender, a hamock; the muscles by which the testis is
suspended (Galen, 180).
crenated adj. L. crenatus =
notched or scalloped; of appearance of a red blood cell in a
hypertonic solution.
cribriform L. cribrum =
sieve + forma = form; c. plate of ethmoid bone; c.
fascia; area cribrosa of renal papilla.
crista ampullaris L. = crest +
ampulla = little jar; sensory component of semicircular
canal.
cryostat G. kryos = cold +
statikos = in equilibrium; refrigerated device to
maintain constant temperature, often with a cryotome inside for
cutting frozen sections.
cryotome G. " + tome= a
cutting; a microtome in a cryostat.
crypt G. kryptos = hidden.
cumulus oophorus L. cumulus
= a little mound + G. oon = egg + phorus =
bearing; part of the wall of an ovarian follicle surrounding and
carrying the ovum.
cupula L. = a little tub (or upside
down, a little dome; dim L. cupa = cup); gelatinous mass
forming cap over crista ampullaris; a dome at apex of cochlea
duct.
cutaneous from L. cutis
= skin.
cuticle L. cuticula = a
little skin (dim. of L. cutis); e.g., of a nail, of a
tooth, of a hair, capsule of lens of eye.
cutis L. = skin; cutis anserina (L.
anserinus = of a goose) = "goose-flesh".
Cuvier, Georges Léopold
Chrétian Frédéric Dagobert (Baron de la). 1769-1832 famous
French naturalist; President of Council of State; duct of C. =
common cardinal vein from union of inferior and superior
cardinal veins in embryo (1805).
cyst G. kystis = bladder,
sac; hence, cystic duct = duct of gall bladder.
cytochemistry G. kytos =
hollow vessel (cell) + chemeia = chemistry; application
of specific chemical reagents to a histological section, or to a
cell smear, or to an ultrathin section (requiring electron
microscopy), to reveal the cytoplasmic location (topography) of
natural substances; cf. histochemistry.
cytology G. " + logos =
study; study of cells and their organelles, usually with
electron microscope.
cytoplasm G. kytos = hollow
vessel (cell) + plasma = a formed substance; main
component of cell other than nucleus & plasma membrane.
cytotrophoblast G. " + trophe
= nourishment + blastos = germ; inner layer of embryonic
trophoblast (Langhan's layer).
dartos G. = skinned, flayed; a
tunica surrounding the testes (Rufus, c. 100 AD).
Darwin, Charles Robert. 1809-1882
Famous English naturalist; D.'s theory of evolution; D.'s ear =
congenital defformity of ear; D.'s tubercle = small projection
from upper part of helix (first noticed by Thomas Woolner,
sculptor, 1825-1892).
Deaver, John. 1855-1931
American surgeon; D.'s windows = fat-free portions of
mesentery framed by vascular arcades adjacent to the attached
margin of the intestine.
decidua basalis L. deciduus
= falling off, from L. decidere = to fall off; that part
of the endometrium invaded by the chorionic villi; unites with
the chorion to form the placenta.
deciduous adj. L. " ; d. teeth =
milk or primary teeth.
deferens L. = carrying away or
down; cf. ductus deferens.
dehiscence L. dihiscere = to
gape (open); a bursting open, as of a Graafian follicle, a
surgical wound, a dying mast cell as it loses its granules.
Deiters, Otto Friedrich
Karl. 1834-1863 Bonn anatomist & histologist; D.'s cells =
phalangeal cells = outer sustentacular cells in organ of Corti
(1860); D.'s nucleus = lateral vestibular nucleus.
demilune L. dimidius = half
+ luna = moon; crescent-shaped cap of serous cells over
mucous alveolus in some salivary glands.
dendraxon G. dendron = a
tree + axon, q.v., obsolete term for the terminal part of an
axon; see telodendron.
dendrite G. dendron = a
tree; a structure with a tree-like pattern; centripetal (=
afferent conducting) process of a nerve cell soma.
dendritic spines gemmules, q.v.
dens L. = a tooth; hence dentate =
toothed, with a serrated outline; denticulate ligament of spinal
canal.
dentine L. dens = a tooth;
apatite (calcifed tissue) of a tooth surrounding the pulp
cavity, and covered by enamel.
dermis G. derma = skin;
connective tissue bed for the epidermis; corium, q.v.
dermatoglyphics G. " + glypho
= I carve; the impression left by moist sweat gland secretions
on the epidermal ridges of fingers, toes, etc., which impression
can be later revealed by finger-printing methods.
Descemet, Jean. 1732-1810 Paris
anatomist, surgeon & botanist; D.'s membrane = basement membrane
of corneal (posterior) endothelium (1758).
desmosome G. desmos = a
bond, anchor rope + soma = body; intercellular bridge;
patch component (i.e., macula adherens) of terminal bar.
desquamation shedding of squames,
or shedding of cells from any epithelium.
detrusor L. detrudo = I
thrust away; of the smooth muscle of wall of urinary bladder
effecting micturition.
diapedesis G. dia = through
+ pedan = to leap; normal passage of red or white blood
cells across an endothelium of a capillary.
diaphysis G. dia = apart +
physis = growth; a gap between teeth; point of branching
of a plant; shaft or mid-region of long bone between the growing
ends.
diarthrosis G. dia =
throughout + arthron = a joint; a perfect joint; a
completely movable joint (Galen).
differentiation 1. embryological
process by which different tissues and organs arise in ontogeny;
2. histological process of distinguishing different tissual
components.
diploid G. diploo = to
repeat (a process); having a (normal) double set of chromosomes
= twice the haploid number (all somatic cells are diploid).
Disse, Joseph. German anatomist
1852-1912; space of D. in liver, between sinusoidal endothelium
and hepatocytes (perisinusoidal space).
distal L. distare = to stand
apart; away from the centre; opposite to proximal, q.v.
diverticulum (-a) L. = a by-road,
from L. devertere = to turn aside; a blind-ended sac or
pouch in wall of an organ.
Dobbie, William Murray. 1828-1915
English physician; D.'s line = Z-band of a striated muscle.
Dogiel, Alexander Stanislavovic.
1852-1922 Russian neurologist & histologist; D.'s corpuscle =
encapsulated sensory ending.
DPX a 1939 synthetic mounting
medium of distrene, plasticizer and xylene.
ductule L. ductulus = a
little duct (dim. L. ductus); bile ductules; efferent
ductules; prostatic ductules.
ductus (-us) L. = passage from L.
ducere = to lead; tube lined by epithelium for exocrine
glandular secretions to reach surface.
ductus arteriosus L = arterial
duct; a fetal vessel connecting left pulmonary artery
with descending aorta; Botallo's duct; Arantius's duct.
ductus cochlearis L. = cochlear
duct; scala media of membranous labyrinth.
ductus epididymidis L. duct of the
epididymis; the duct is the main component of the
epididymis, q.v.
ductus deferens L. = the duct
carrying down (sperm to be ejaculated); secretory duct running
from the epididymis to the prostatic urethra (actually carries
sperm upwards!); the vas deferens.
ductus venosus L. = venous duct;
the continuation of the fetal umbilical vein through the liver
to the inferior vena cava.
duodenum L. duodenarius =
containing twelve; first part of small intestine, 12
finger-widths long.
dura mater L. durus = hard +
mater = mother, i.e., a protector; tough, collagenous
membrane enveloping spinal cord & brain.
Ebner, Victor (Ritter von
Rosenstein). 1842-1925 Innsbruck & Vienna histologist; E.'s
glands = serous lingual glands; E.'s lines = fibrils in dentine
and cementum of teeth; E.'s reticulum = network of cells in
seminiferous tubules.
eccentric G. ek = out(side)
+ kentron = centre.
eccrine G. " + krinein = to
separate; of sweat secretion, or of sweat glands.
ectoderm G. ek = outside +
derma = skin; outer cell layer of embryo giving rise to
CNS, skin, glands, etc.
ectopic G. ek = out +
topos = placed; displaced; in an abnormal position; opposite
to entopic.
ectoplasm G ektos = outside
+ plasma = a thing formed; outermost layer of cytoplasm.
Edinger, Ludwig. 1855-1918
Franfurt-am-Main anatomist & neurologist; skilled violinist;
bequeathed his own brain for study; nucleus of Edinger-Westphal
= oculomotor nucleus (1885); cf. Westphal.
efferent L. ex = away +
ferre = to carry; centrifugal; e.g., motor nerves are
efferent with respect to central nervous system; efferent
arteriole of renal glomerulus; opposite to afferent, q.v.
effete worn out.
Ehrlich, Paul. 1854-1915 German
pathologist & bacteriologist; named mast cells, q.v.; E.'s
haematoxylin.
elastin G. elastikos =
impulsive (as in elastic recoil); protein component of yellow
fibres of elastic tissue.
electron-dense appearing dark in
electron microscope; scatters electrons.
electron-lucent appearing light in
electron microscope; transmits electrons; opposite to
electron-dense.
eleidin G. elaia = oil;
acidophilic substance in oily granules in cells of stratum
lucidum of epidermis.
embolus G. embolos = wedge,
something inserted; something blocking the lumen of a blood
vessel.
embryo G. embryon = fruit of
womb before birth, from bryein = to grow, swell out.
emphysema G. emphysan = to
inflate; pathological distension of tissues by gas.
en bloc F. = in the block; of
dyeing tissues in the block before sectioning the block in a
microtome.
en face F. = face on; e.g. an
aerial view of a surface.
enamel OF. esmail = enamel,
from L. smatto = I smelt; hard prismatic white substance
covering crown of tooth, like the enamel fused to surface of
objects.
enarthrosis G. en = in +
arthron = a joint; a ball-and-socket joint.
encephalon G. enkephalos =
brain, from en = in + kephalos = head.
end artery a small artery that ends
in branches which do not have sufficient anastomoses other
arteries to keep the organ alive if the end artery is occluded,
e.g., artery to the vermiform appendix (Cohnheim, c. 1860).
end-bulb the sensory corpuscle at
the peripheral end of a sensory nerve, e.g., end-bulb of Krause.
endo- or ento- G. endon
= within.
endocardium G. " + kardia =
heart; the tunica intima of the heart.
endochondral G. " + chondros
= cartilage; of ossification taking place in a cartilage model.
endocrine G. " + krinein =
to separate; formation of internal secretions (= hormones) with
release into blood or lymph stream.
endoderm or entoderm G. " +
derma = skin; inner cell layer of embryo giving rise to
digestive system, glands, liver, part of urinary system, etc;
also called entoderm.
endolymph G. " + L. lympha =
clear fluid, water; fluid inside the membranous labyrinth of the
inner ear.
endometrium G. " + metra =
womb; mucosal lining of uterus.
endomysium G. " + mys =
muscle; fine connective tissue supporting single muscle cells
within a muscle fascicle.
endoneurium G. " + neuron =
sinew (nerve); delicate connective tissue supporting individual
nerve fibres within a peripheral nerve fascicle.
endoplasm G. " + plasma = a
thing formed; central, more fluid part of cytoplasm.
endoplasmic reticulum G. " +
plasma = a thing formed + reticulum = a small net
(-work), dimutive of L. rete, q.v.; a connecting network
of membranous channels and sacs in cytoplasm; of two types:
rough e.r. with many ribosomes on surface, and smooth e.r.,
without ribosomes; cf. ergastoplasm.
endosteum G. " + osteon =
bone; vascular membrane and osteoblasts lining medullary cavity
of a bone.
endotendineum G " L. tendo
= sinew; connective tissue within a sinew (also
endotenon).
endothelium G. " + thele =
nipple; the special name for epithelium (q.v.) lining blood and
lymph vessels.
enteroendocrine G. enteron =
intestine + endon = within + krinein = to
separate.
entoderm G. entos = within +
derma = skin; see endoderm.
enzyme G. en = in + zyme
= leaven (an early use of biotechnology!).
Eosin G. eos = dawn,
rose-coloured; an acidic dye staining the basic cytoplasmic
proteins pink.
eosinophil G. " + philein =
to love; a type of blood cell with distinct cytoplasmic granules
which stain pink with eosin.
eosinophilic having an affinity for
eosin dye.
ependyma G. epi = upon + endyma = a
garment, an upper garment, a wrap; a vest or singlet, hence an
inner garment; cellular layer lining cerebral ventricles and
central canal of spinal cord.
epi- G. = upon, on.
epicardium G. " + kardia =
heart; outer layer of heart, including connective tissue (i.e.,
its tunica adventitia) and mesothelium of the serous visceral
pericardium.
epidermis G. " + derma =
skin; superficial layer of skin.
epididymis (-dymides) G. " +
didymos = twofold, double, testis; hence an organ on the
posterosuperior aspect of the duplicated organ, the testis, with
a duct through which spermatozoa pass; cf. ductus epididymidis.
epidural space space external to
the dura mater in the spinal cord.
epiglottis G. " + glottis =
throat, larynx; leaf-shaped structure of the upper part of
larynx at root of tongue.
epimysium G. " + mys =
muscle; loose connective tissue investing several muscle
fascicles = muscle fascia, q.v.
epineurium G. " + neuron =
sinew; loose connective tissue investing several nerve
fascicles.
epiphysis (-ses) G. epi
= upon + physis = a growth; extremities of long bones,
covering the actual sites of growth (= metaphysis); also
epiphysis cerebri = pineal gland.
epiploic G. epiploon = a
net; relating to greater omentum, resembling a net with adipose
tissue deposits (Galen, c. 180 AD).
epithelioid cells G. -oeides
= like; cells that appear like those of an epithelium but
are not, e.g., lymphocytes around the germinal centre of an
active lymphatic follicle; juxtaglomerular cells of an afferent
arteriole in the kidney.
epithelium (-ia) G. epi
= upon + thele = nipple, ridge of the lip; cells that
cover the ridges of the lip (Ruysch, c. 1700); cells
covering organs and structures, or lining spaces, tubes
(Henle, c. 1870); many epithelia separate the inside the body
from the outside world and its inward extensions.
eponychium G. " + onyx =
nail; horny structure (i.e., stratum corneum) of skin fold
covering root of a nail; cuticle of a nail.
epoöphoron G. " + oöphoron =
ovary; minute tubules in mesosalpinx derived from upper part of
embryonic mesonephros.
ergastoplasm G. ergon = work
+ plasma = a thing formed; cytoplasmic ribonucleic acid
as a site of protein synthesis; synonym for rough endoplasmic
reticulum.
erythroblast G. erythros =
red + blastos = germ; early stage in development of an
erythrocyte.
erythrocyte G. " + kytos =
hollow vessel; red blood cell (without a nucleus).
erythropoiesis G. " + poiesis
= making; process of erythrocyte production in bone marrow,
liver, etc.
euchromatin G. eus = good +
chroma = colour; chromatin rich in nucleic acid.
Eustachio, Bartolomeo.
?1513,1524-1574 Rome anatomist & physician to Pope; studied
teeth; described thoracic duct (vena alba magna),
cochlea, larynx; Eustachian tube = the cartilaginous part of
auditory tube (1562).
evagination L. evaginare =
to unsheath; protrusion of an organ or a surface.
exocrine G. exo = outside +
krinein = to separate; of glands retaining connection
with epithelial surface (opposite to endocrine).
extrafusal L. extra = out +
fusus = a spindle; of normal skeletal muscle fibres other
than the intrafusal (q.v.) fibres of the muscle spindle.
extravasation L. extra = out
+ vas = vessel; leakage, e.g., of urine from urinary
tract.
exudate L. ex = out +
sudare = to sweat.
Fabricius of Aquapendente,
Hieronymus. ?1533,1537-1619 Studied under Fallopius; Padua
anatomist; taught William Harvey; described valves in veins;
bursa of F. = peritoneal blind pouch near anus in birds,
producing lymphocytes.
facet F. facette = a face.
Fallopius, Gabriele. 1523-1563
Ferrara, Pisa & Padua anatomist & botanist; described accurately
the inner ear, ethmoid bone, lacrimal duct, vagina, placenta;
disproved earlier notion that ovarian ligaments conducted ovum
to uterus; Fallopian tube = uterine tube (1561).
fascia (-ae) L. = a band, bandage;
fibrous membrane covering and supporting muscles, cf. epimysium;
hypodermis.
fascia adherens L. "
+ adhaerere = to stick to; most prominent component of
the intercalated disc joining two cardiac muscle muscle cells;
resembles zonula adherens of epithelium.
fascicle L. fasciculus = a
little bundle, dim L. facis (fasces was a symbolic
bundle of rod with an axe in the middle); e.g., a bundle of
nerve fibres, of muscle fibres.
fasciculata adj. L. " ; e.g.,
zona fasciculata = middle zone in adrenal cortex where cells
are arranged in columns.
Fast green a synthetic dye
resistant to fading used in histology & cytology.
fenestrated adj. L. fenestra
= window; 1. of an aperture in a cell membrane (e.g., in a
capillary endothelial cell) often closed by a membrane; 2. of an
aperture in an elastic sheet in tunica media of an artery.
Ferrein, Antoine. 1692-1769
Paris surgeon & physician. F.'s processes = medullary
rays of kidney.
fibre L. fibra = fibre
(Vesalius, c. 1550); original meaning was a lobe, e.g., of lung,
liver, or bowels examined for prophecies.
fibril L. fibrilla = a small
fibre (from L. fibra = fibre); subunit of a fibre, i.e.,
many fibrils bundle together to form a fibre; cf. microfibril.
fibroblast L. fibra = fibre
+ G. blastos = germ; young flat, elongated cell forming
collagen.
fibrocartilage L. " + cartilago
= gristle; a type of cartilage with many collagen fibres.
fibrocyte L. " + kytos = a
vessel; mature form of the fibroblast, especially in tendon.
field of view the circular field
seen when looking into an optical device.
filiform L. filum = a thread
+ forma = form; hair-like, of thread of keratin emerging
from the apex of a filiform lingual papilla.
fimbria L. = a fringe; e.g.,
fimbria at ovarian end of uterine tube; fimbria of 3rd ventricle
of brain.
flavum L. flavus = yellow
(often due to presence of large amount of elastic tissue);
ligamentum flavum of vertebral column.
Flechsig, Paul Emil.
1847-1929 Leipzig psychiatrist; named pyramidal tract; nucleus
of F. = superior vestibular nucelus; fasciculus of F. =
fasciculus lateralis proprius of spinal cord; F.'s law of
myelination.
flocculus L. = a little tuft, dim.
L. floccus; small lobe beneath each cerebellar
hemisphere.
folium (-ia) L. = a leaf; 1. folds
of cerebellar cortex; 2. leaf-like foliate papillae of tongue.
follicle L. folliculus =
little bag (dim. of L. follis).
Fontana, Abbada Felice
?1720,1730-1805. Pisa philosopher; Director, Florence Museum
of Natural Science; F.'s spirals = spiral pattern of nerves in a
peripheral nerve fascicle; spaces of F. = spaces in the
pectinate ligament of the iridocorneal angle of the iris through
which the aqueous humour flows into the scleral venous canal (of
Schlemm).
formalin fixative; aqueous solution
of 37% formaldehyde, possibly with trace amounts of methanol.
fornix (-ices) L. = a cellar, a
vault, the arch of a vault, a prostitute's cellar or brothel
(hence fornication); conjuctival fornix = recess where palpebral
conjunctiva joins to bulbar conjunctiva; vaginal fornices =
vaults surrounding intravaginal part of cervix; fornix of the
brain = arched bundle of fibres.
fossa (-ae) L. = a trench or ditch;
axillary fossa = armpit; fossa ovalis = opening in thigh through
which saphenous vein passes; fossa ovalis cordis = remnant of
embryonic foramen ovale in heart; navicular fossa, q.v.
fourchette F. = fork; fold of
mucous membrane at junction of posterior parts of labia majora.
fovea L. = a pit or depression.
fovea centralis L. = central
depression; pit in retina which is site of maximum acuity.
foveola (-ae) L. = a little pit
(dim. of L. fovea).
foveola gastrica L. = a little pit
of the stomach; a gastric pit = a groove into which several
gastric glands drain.
frenulum L.= a small bridle, dim L.
frenum; frenulum linguae (when short - "tongue-tied").
fundus L. = bottom, base (as in
fundamental); refers to region of organ (e.g., stomach, uterus,
eye), gland (e.g., gastric glands).
fungiform L. fungus =
mushroom + forma = a shape; of lingual papillae.
funiculus (-i) L. = a little cord
(dim. L. funis = cord); a cordlike structure composed of
longitudinally oriented fibres, vessels, etc., e.g., funiculi of
white matter of spinal cord; funiculus spermaticus = spermatic
cord; funiculus umbilicus = umbilical cord
fusiform L. fusus = spindle
+ forma = shape; see extrafusal/intrafusal.
Galen, Claudius? Clarissmus.
?129,130-200,201 AD Rome physician to Marcus Aurelius; famous
early anatomist (however many statements based on animal
dissections); great cerebral vein of Galen; collected medical
works of Galen.
Gallocyanin a purple synthetic
basic dye used to staining nuclei acids.
gamete G. = a wife, from gamein
= to marry; a mature male germ cell (spermatozoon) or female
germ cell (ovum); their union produces a zygote, q.v.
ganglion (-a, -ions) G. =
knot, swelling; an accumulation of nerve cell somas outside the
central nervous system; also applied to cells forming optic
nerve axons within the central nervous system; also small
synovial swelling under skin.
gap junction intercellular junction
for communication between cells (see nexus).
Gärtner, Hermann Treschow.
1785-1827 Copenhagen physician & anatomist; G.'s duct =
longitudinal duct of epoöphoron (q.v) = remains of mesonephric
duct.
Gasser, Johann Ludwig.
1757-1765 Vienna anatomist; Gasserian ganglion =
semilunar ganglion of trigeminal nerve (actually described by a
student of Gasser, Raimund Hirsch, 1765).
gastric adj. L. gastricus,
from G. gaster = stomach, belly; relating to the stomach.
gastric pit foveola gastrica, q.v.
gelatine L. = protein derived by
hydrolysis (boiling) of collagen present in skin, bone and
joints.
gemmules L. gemmula = a
little bud; minute processes on dendrites of a neuron.
genital adj. L. genitalis =
of birth.
Gennari, Francesco 1750-?
Parma anatomist; stria of G. = the distinct outer stria of
Baillarger (q.v.) in the visual part of the cerebral cortex
(1782); hence striate cortex, q.v.
Gerlach, Joseph von.
1820-1896 Erlangen anatomist; invented method of injecting
cadavers with carmine & gelatine; G.'s tonsil = tubal tonsil;
G.'s valve = a fold of mucosa sometimes seen at entrance to
vermiform appendix; G.'s valvulae = trabecular meshwork of
pectinate ligament.
germinal L. germen = an
offshoot; germinal epithelium of ovary (but not a source of germ
cells!).
germinativum L. germinare =
to sprout; deepest layer or stratum of epidermis = Malpighian
layer.
Gerota, Dumitru. 1867-1939
Roumanian anatomist; G.'s fascia = perirenal fascia.
gingiva (-ae) L. = the gum.
Giraldès, Joachim Albin
Cardozo Cazado. 1808-1875 Paris surgeon from Portugal; died of a
wound acquired during an autopsy; organ of G. (1859) =
paradidymis, q.v.
glabella L. glaber = smooth;
space between eyebrows, often devoid of hair.
glabrous adj. L. glaber =
smooth; of non-hairy skin.
gland L. glandula, dim of L.
glans = an acorn, a pellet; term used to describe
mesenteric lymph nodes (Herophilus, c. 300 BC).
glia G. gloia = glue;
neuroglia is the non-nervous supporting tissue of central
nervous system; gliosis = hyperplasia of astrocytes, q.v.
Glisson, Francis. 1597-1677
Cambridge classicist & physician; described bile duct and its
sphincter (cf. Oddi); G.'s capsule = fibrous capsule of liver.
glomerulosa adj. L. = like a little
ball; e.g., zona glomerulosa = superficial zone in
adrenal cortex where cells are arranged in small clusters.
glomerulus (-i) L. = a
little ball, dim. of L. glomus (from L. glomerare
= to roll up, as in conglomerate); renal glomerulus = a cluster
of capillaries in kidney cortex = Malpighian corpuscles;
olfactory glomerulus = a ball of nerve cells and fibres in the
olfactory bulb, where primary olfactory fibres synapse with
mitral cells, q.v.
glomus (-mera) L. = a ball;
cluster or conglomeration of small arteries or arterioles and
nerve fibres, e.g., carotid glomus, at bifurcation of common
carotid; choroidal glomus, at site where choroid plexus enters
inferior horn of lateral ventricle; coccygeal glomus (or body) =
glomus coccyxgeum, associated with median sacral artery at
coccyx, cf. glands of Luschka.
glottis G. = larynx; now the space
between the vocal cords.
glycan G. glykos = sweet.
glycocalyx G. " + kalyx =
cup; layer like a husk rich in carbohydrates outside cell plasma
membrane.
glycogen G. " + gennan = to
produce; a polysaccharide ("animal starch") in liver, muscle,
etc. yielding glucose on .hydrolysis.
glycosaminoglycan (abb. GAG)
chemical constituent of glycocalyx.
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von.
1749-1832 German poet & scientist; G.'s bone = premaxilla; G.'s
theory of vertebral origin of skull; G.'s theory of colour.
Golgi, Camillo. 1844-1926. Italian
histologist; shared Nobel prize in 1906 with Cajal, q.v.; Golgi
apparatus (or G. complex) = an organelle consisting of a system
of cytoplasmic membranes; G. technique = a histological staining
technique for impregnation of single neurons (cf. Cajal); G.
cells of nervous system; G. corpuscle = a sensory receptor in
tendon, tendon; axon collaterals of G; Golgi-Mazzoni corpuscles
= corpuscular nerve endings.
Goll, Friedrich. 1829-1903
Zurich pharmacologist; column of G. = funiculus gracilis of
spinal cord (1860).
Gomori, George. American
histochemist 1904- ; trichrome and histochemical stains.
gomphosis G. gomphos =
wedge-shaped nail or bolt used in ship-building; a peg-in-socket
joint (Galen, c. 180 AD); junction of tooth in alveolar socket.
gonad G. gone = seed; organs
containing germ cells, i.e., ovary and testis.
Gowers, William Richard
(Sir). 1845-1915 London physician & neurologist; tract of G. =
superficial anterolateral fasciculus of spinal cord =
anterolateral spinocerebellar tract.
Graaf, Regnier de. 1641-1673 Delft
physician, anatomist; contemporary of Swammerdam & Leewenhoek;
described corpus luteum; Graafian follicle = a mature ovarian
follicle (1672).
granulosa L. granulum =
little grain; cells around ovarian oocyte.
granulosum L. " ; referring to
granule-containing cells in epidermis.
gray matter parts of central
nervous system where there are relatively fewer myelinated
fibres; central part of spinal cord; cortex of cerebrum and
cerebellum; cf. white matter.
ground substance colloidal
material, with variable viscosity, of the intercellular spaces
of connective tissue; usually homogeneous and scarcely
stainable.
Guérin, Alphonase F.M.
1816-1895 French surgeon; G.'s valve = fold of
mucous membrane in navicular fossa of urethra.
gyrus G. gyros = circle,
arc; one of the coils or convolutions of cerebral cortex,
separated by sulci or fissures.
H-band abb. of Hell-band Ge.
hell = light + band; also Henle's band; light band within
A-band of the myofibril.
haematocrit G. haima = blood
+ krinein = to separate; the proportion by volume of
erythrocytes (packed by centrifugation of a thin tube containing
blood).
Haematoxylin a basic dye from a
South American tree; its oxidation product haematein is used
with mordants for histological staining of nucleic acids.
haemopoiesis G. haima =
blood + poiein = to make; production of the cellular
elements of blood, in bone marrow, etc. (also haematopoiesis).
Haller, Albrecht von. 1708-1777
Göttingen anatomist, surgeon & botanist; eminent scientist &
poet; dissected over 400 cadavers and wrote extensive
anatomical bibliography; ductulus aberrans of H. = a
diverticulum of the canal of the ductus epididymidis; H.'s layer
= vascular lamina of the choroid, q.v.; H.'s rete = rete testis.
haploid G. haplos = plain,
simple; having the simplest (i.e., single) set of self-contained
chromosomes in germ cells; cf. diploid.
Hartmann, Robert. 1831-1893 German
anatomist; H.'s pouch = outpouching of gall bladder near its
junction with cystic duct.
Hassall, Arthur Hill. 1817-1894
London chemist, botanist & physician; H.'s corpuscles =
concentrically laminated corpuscles of thymus (1846).
haustrum (-a) L. haurire
= to draw water in a bucket; sacculated pouches of colon.
Havers, Clopton. ?1655,1657-1702
London physician & anatomist; Haversian canals = minute vascular
canals in compact bone (1691); Haversian glands = pads, folds or
fringes containing fat in a synovial membrane (1691); Haversian
lamellae = bony lamellae in an osteon (1691); Haversian system =
an osteon (1691), q.v.; cf. Leeuwenhoek's canals.
Heidenhain, Martin. 1864-1949
Tübingen pathologist & histologist; H.'s azan = a histological
dye; H.'s crescent cells = serous demilunes.
Heidenhain, Rudolph Peter Heinrich.
1834-1897 Breslau physiologist & histologist; described gastric
parietal cells.
Heister, Lorenz. 1638-1758 Altdorf
anatomist, surgeon & botanist; Helmstädt surgeon & botanist;
H.'s valve = spiral folds of cystic duct.
helicine adj. G. helix =
coil, snail; e.g, helicine arteries of ovarian medulla, penis,
etc.
helicotrema G. " + trema = a
hole; union of scala tympani and scala vestibuli at apex of
cochlear canal.
hemidesmosome G. hemi = half
+ desmosome; found in cells of basal stratum of stratified
epithelia.
Henle, Freidrich Gustav Jacob.
1809-1885 Zurich, Heidelberg & Göttingen anatomist; loop of H. =
ansa nephronis (q.v.) of renal tubule (1866); endoneurium; H.'s
layer = outer layer of cells of inner root sheath of hair
follicle.
Hensen, Victor. 1835-1924
Kiel physiologist & embryologist; H.'s duct = ductus reuniens of
membranous labyrinth; H.'s knot (or node) of embryonic disc;
H.'s line = light band in middle of dark band of sarcomere =
H-band, q.v.
hepatocyte G. hepar = liver
+ kytos = hollow vessel; liver parenchymal cell.
Herring, Percy T. 1872-1967 St.
Andrews physiologist; H. bodies = axonal varicosities containing
granules of neurophysins (q.v.) in pars nervosa of hypophysis.
heterochromatin G. heteros =
other + chromatin; other than euchromatin.
Highmore, Nathaniel.
1613-1685 Dorsetshire physician; body of Highmore =
mediastinum testis (1651).
hilum or hilus (-a)
L. = a trifle; depression in a seed; a depression at vascular
entrance/exit of a gland or organ.
hircus (-ci) L. = a he-goat; hair
of arm-pits which had a goat-like smell; tragus of pinna with
its tuft of goat's-beard-like hairs.
His, Wilhelm (the elder). 1831-1904
Basle, Leipzig anatomist; copula of H. = bond joining ventral
ends of third pharyngeal arches in embryo (1880).
His, Wilhelm (the younger).
1863-1934 Leipzig, Basle, Göttingen & Berlin anatomist;
bundle of H. = atrioventricular bundle of conducting tissue
in heart (1893).
histiocyte a macrophage, q.v.
histochemistry G. histos =
web, tissue + chemeia = chemistry; application of
specific chemical reagents to a histological section to reveal
the location (topography) of natural substances within the
various tissues of the section; cf. cytochemistry.
histology G. histos = web,
woven material, sail of a ship + logos = knowledge,
study; microscopic anatomy, as opposed to macroscopic anatomy.
Hoboken, Nicolas van. 1632-1678
Harderwyck anatomist; valves of H. = internal valve-like folds
of umbilical vessels.
holocrine G. holos = entire
+ krinein = to separate; a type of secretion where entire
cell forms the secretory product, as in sebaceous glands.
Hooke, Robert. 1635-1703 English
scientist; skilled in use of compound microscope; described
cells in cork.
Howship John, 1781-1841, English
surgeon; H.'s lacunae or foveolae= small depressions in bone
where resporption of bone by osteoclasts takes place.
humour L. umor = a fluid;
aqueous humour and vitreous humour of the eye.
Huxley, Thomas Henry. 1825-1895
English anatomist & naturalist; H.'s layer = the layer of cells
lying inside Henle's layer (q.v.) in root-sheath of hair
follicle,
hyaline adj. G. hyalos =
glassy, translucent, crystalline; hyaline cartilage with its
glassy appearance.
hyaloid adj. G. " + -oeides
= form of.
hyaluronidase testicular enzyme,
present in semen, depolymerises hyaluronic acid of ground
substance.
hydatid G. hydatis = watery
vesicle; a cyst; e.g., appendix testis is the hydatid of
Morgagni.
hydroxyapatite crystalline,
inorganic component of matrix of mature bone.
hymen G. = a membrane, also Greek
god of marriage; membrane partially covering entrance to vagina
(Vesalius, c. 1550).
hyperplasia G. hyper =
above, an excess of + plassein = to form; growth of organ
due to increase in cell number.
hypertrophy G. " + trophe =
nourishment; growth of organ or tissue (e.g., muscle) due to
increase in cell size.
hypodermis G. hypo = under,
a lack of + dermis; subcutaneous connective tissue =
superficial fascia.
hyponychium G. " + onyx =
nail; thickened stratum corneum under the free end of a nail.
hypophysis G. = an undergrowth;
pituitary gland under the brain; cf. epiphysis.
hypoplasia G. " + plassein =
to form; reduction in tissue or organ size.
hypothalamus G. " + thalamus;
below the thalamus, q.v.
I - band abb. of isotropic band
G. isos = equal + tropos = a turning, direction;
equal properties in every direction; of transverse bands in
skeletal muscle which do not rotate the plane of polarised
light, cf. A-band.
-iculus L. = a diminutive suffix.
ileum G. eilein = to twist;
distal part of small intestine (1618).
ilium L. = the flank.
immunoglobulin L. immunis =
free from service, exempt + globulus = a little sphere;
one of a class of proteins consisting of two polypeptide chains
and functioning as an antibody.
incisor adj. L. incidere
= to cut into, to notch; of the four front upper and lower
teeth.
incus L. = an anvil; middle ossicle
of middle ear (Vesalius, c. 1550).
infundibulum L. = a funnel, from L.
infundere = to pour into; funnel-shaped part of an organ.
inspissated L. inspissatus =
thickened; concentrated by absorption.
insulin L. insula = island;
hormone secreted by beta cells in the pancreatic islets of
Langerhans.
integument L. in = on +
tegere = to roof, to cover (L. tegmen = a roof) ; a
covering, hence the skin, consisting of epidermis, dermis and
hypodermis.
intercalated L. inter =
between + calare = to proclaim, calatus =
inserted; of a duct inserted between the end of the gland
(acinus, or alveolus) and a larger duct; of a disc inserted
between the ends of two cardiac fibres.
interneurone abb. of internuncial
neuron, q.v.
internode L. " + nodus =
knot; a segment of myelinated nerve fibre between adjacent nodes
of Ranvier, q.v.
internuncial neuron L. " +
nuncius = a messenger; a nerve cell relaying an impulse from
one cell to the next; an interneurone.
interstice (-es) L. " + sistere
= to set; a space or gap in a tissue or in an organ.
interstitial adj. L. " ; located
inbetween, e.g., cells of Leydig.
interstitium L. " ; the
interstices, q.v.
intestine contraction of L. quod
intus est = that which is inside; L. intestina = the
guts, entrails (Celsus, c. 10 AD).
intima L. = innermost; cf. tunica
intima.
intrafusal L. intra = with +
fusus = spindle; of the fibres in a muscle spindle =
neuromuscular spindles.
intramural L. intra = within
+ murus = wall; within the wall of an organ.
intussusception L. intus =
within + suscipere = to receive; an invagination; the
slipping ("telescoping") of one part of the intestine into a
lower part.
invagination L. invaginare =
to ensheath; process of pushing inwards and thereby creating a
sheath.
involution L. in = into +
volvere = to roll; retrogressive change with size decrease.
iris L. = a rainbow; the coloured
membrane around the pupil in anterior segment of eye; a
diaphragm in a microscope that can open or close a central
pupil-like aperture.
isotropic G. iso = same +
tropos = a turning; having the same properties in all
directions.
isthmus G isthmos = a narrow
passage, a land-bridge; a connecting band.
iter L. = a journey, a passage-way;
a way between two anatomical structures, e.g., iter of Sylvius =
midbrain aqueduct; iter chordae tympani (anterior, posterior).
Jacobson, Ludwig Levin.
1783-1843 Copenhagen anatomist & physician; military surgeon;
organ of J. = vomeronasal o., q.v.
jejunum G. nestis = fasting,
translated into L. jejunus = empty, fasting; second part
of small intestine emptier than the rest (Galen, c. 180 AD).
junctional complex EM term for
terminal bar of epithelial cells.
juxtaglomerular adj. L. iuxta
= near, adjacent to + glomerulus = a little ball; e.g.,
epithelioid cells containing renin granules close to the
glomerulus.
juxtaglomerular complex or
apparatus a cluster of structures outside a glomerulus
in the renal cortex, consisting of juxtaglomerular cells
(see above), the polkisson cells (q.v.) and the macula densa
(q.v.).
karyon G. = nucleus, nut.
karyolysis G. " + lysis = a
loosening; disappearance of nucleus on cell death.
karyorrhexis G. " + rhexis =
rupture; fragmentation of a nucleus during cell death and
apoptosis.
karyotype G. " + typos =
mark; a photomicrograph of all chromosomes from a nucleus
arrested in metaphase, which chromosomes are then cut out and
arranged in order of size.
keratin G. keras = horn;
protein of hair, nails, horny tissue.
keratohyaline protein (derived from
eleidin) in granules in cells of stratum granulosum of
epidermis.
Kerckring, Theodorus. 1640-1693
Amsterdam & Hamburg physician; valves of K. = plicae circulares
(q.v.) in small intesine.
kinocilium G. kinesis =
movement + cilium = eyelash; unique long cilium on hair
cells of sensory epithelium of labyrinth.
Krause, Karl Friedrich
Theodor. 1797-1868 Hannover anatomist; glands of K. =
accessory lacrimal glands near superior fornix of conjunctiva;
K.'s membrane = Dobbie's line = Z-disc of sarcomere of striated
muscle cell; K.'s corpuscles = sensory end-bulbs in skin.
Kupffer, Karl Wilhelm von.
1829-1902 Kiel, Munich anatomist; K. cell = a stellate,
sinusoidal macrophage of the liver (1876).
labial adj. L. labialis = of
the lips, L. labium = lip, rim of a vessel.
labyrinth G. labyrinthos =
maze; canals (bony labyrinth - Fallopius, c. 1550) and ducts
(membranous labyrinth) of inner ear; renal labyrinth = mass of
convoluted tubules of the kidney cortex; hepatic labyrinth = all
sinusoidal spaces in liver.
lacis cells polkissen cells, q.v.
lacrimal adj. L. lacrima = a
tear-drop.
lacrimal caruncle caruncle found on
the conjunctiva of the inner canthus of the eye.
lacteal L. lac = milk (lacteus
= of milk, lactare = to suckle); intestinal lymphatic,
containing chyle after a fatty meal.
lactiferous L. " + ferre =
to carry.
lacuna (-ae) L. = a pit, a
small hollow space, a dimple, dim L. lacus = lake.
lagena L. lagynos = a flask;
closed apex of cochlear duct.
lamella (-ae) L. = a little
plate, a scale, dim. L. lamina.
lamellar bone secondary bone; of
collagen & osteocytes arranged into Haversian systems &
interstitial laminae.
lamina (-ae) L. = plate or
layer; hence adj. laminated.
lamina propria (-ae -ae) L.
" + propria = belonging to; layer of connective tissue
under epithelium.
Langer, Carl Ritter von Edenberg.
1819-1887 Vienna anatomist; L.'s lines = natural cleavage lines
of skin due to pattern of fibres in dermis (1862).
Langerhans, Paul. 1847-1888
Freiburg anatomist & pathologist; islets of L. = endocrine
tissue in pancreas (1869); L. cell = a cell type of epidermis.
Langhans, Theodor. 1839-1915 German
anatomist & pathologist; L. layer = cytotrophoblast layer of
chorionic villi.
Lanterman, A. J. (no dates)
American anatomist at Strasbourg; clefts of Schmidt-Lanterman =
oblique clefts in myelin sheath (1877); internodes of L.; cf.
Schmidt.
lanugo L. = down (from L. lana
= wool); downy hair of body, especially cheeks; hair of fetus
from fifth month of development.
Leeuwenhoek, Antony van.
1632-1723 Dutch draper, civil servant & amateur microscopist;
perfected the simple microscope with a single glass bead as a
lens; described accurately the form of spermatozoa; described
striations in skeletal muscle, bacteria, dental canals, bony
canals, optic nerve fascicles, etc.; L.'s canals = Haversian
canals (Havers, q.v.).
Leishman, William B. 1865-1926
British medical officer; L.'s stain for parasites, and blood
films.
lens L. = a lentil; referring to
shape of crystalline structure in the eye.
leptomeniges (pl.) G. leptos
= thin + menix = a membrane; pia mater & arachnoid taken
together (opposite to pachymenix, q.v.)
leucocyte G. leukos = white
+ kytos = hollow vessel; white blood cell (also
leukocyte).
leucopoiesis G. " + poiein =
to make; production of white blood cells.
Leydig, Franz von. 1821-1908
Würzburg, Bonn histologist; a founder of comparative histology;
L. cells = interstitial cells of testis.
Lieberkühn, Johann Nathanael.
1711-1756 Berlin anatomist & physician; crypts of L. = simple
tubular intestinal glands (1745).
lien L. = the spleen (? from G.
leios = soft, smooth).
ligamentum nuchae L. ligamen
= a bandage + -mentum = a suffix denoting an instrument
of the action + corruption of A. nukha = upper end of
spinal cord (medulla oblongata), later the neck itself; the
dense elastic ligament found in neck of grazing animals, e.g.,
cattle.
limbus L. = border, edge; e.g.,
limbus of the cornea at its junction with sclera; spiral limbus,
q.v.
limen L. = threshold, a still;
limen insulae = medial part of apex of insula; limen nasi =
ridge marking entrance to nasal cavity.
lingual adj. L. lingua =
tongue.
lipofuscin G. lipos = fat +
L. fuscus = brown; yellow-brown intracellular pigment
accumulating in old muscle cells & neurons.
liquor folliculi L. = fluid of a
follicle (ovarian).
Lissauer, Heinrich.
1861-1891 Breslau physician; L.'s tract = marginal zone of
dorsal horn of spinal cord.
Littré, Alexis. 1658-1726 Paris
anatomist & surgeon; glands of L. = mucous glands in penile
urethra (1700).
lobule L. lobulus = a small
lobe, dim. L. lobus = lobe, from G. lobos.
locule L. loculus = a small
place; dim. of L. locus; a cavity or chamber; used to
describe unilocular & multilocular adipocytes.
locus cinereus L. locus = a
place + cinereus = grey; a pigmented area in superior
part of floor of 4th ventricle; also called locus coeruleus
(L. coeruleus = dark blue).
Lower, Richard. 1631-1691 London
physician; experimeted with blood transfusion; described vortex
of cardiac muscle; L.'s tubercle = a crest between the inferior
and the superior venae cavae in the posterior wall of the right
atrium.
lumen L. = light; space enclosed by
tubular or vesicular structure; hence luminal.
Luschka, Hubert. 1820-1875
Tubingen anatomist; foramina of L. = two lateral apertures of
fourth ventricle (1855, 1863); glands of L. = glomus coccygeum,
q.v.; tonsil of L. = pharyngeal tonsil.
lutein cells L. luteus =
yellow; cells of corpus luteum containing much lipid and
appearing yellowish.
luteum L. luteus = yellow;
cf. corpus luteum.
Luxol fast blue stain for myelin
sheath of nerve fibres.
lymph L. lympha = pure
spring water, transparent fluid; found in lymphatics (appears
milky in intestinal lymphatics).
lymph node L. " + nodus =
knot; first described as lymph glands; organs filtering lymph
and producing lymphocytes.
lymphatic adj. L. lymphaticus
= frantic, panic-stricken (related to rabies or hydrophobia);
now related to lymph; also a lymphatic capillary.
lymphocyte L. lympha =
transparent fluid + kytos = hollow vessel; a type of
white blood cell, found in tissues and organs, also found in
blood and lymph.
lymphoid adj. L. lympha + G.
-oeides = form of.
lymphokine L. " + G. kinesis
= movement; chemotactic substance produced by T-lymphocytes
attracting macrophages to site of infection.
lysis G. = dissolution.
lysosome G. " + soma = body;
membrane-bound cell organelle, part of intracellular digestive
system.
M-line Ge. mitte = middle;
centre line of H-band of a sarcomere.
maceration L. macerare = to
make soft; process of softening a solid by steeping it in a
liquid.
macrophage G. makros = large
+ phagein = to eat, hence big-eater; connective tissue
cell (derived from monocyte) digesting foreign particles, etc.
macroscopic G. " + skopein =
to examine; pertaining to the anatomy seen with the naked eye,
i.e., gross anatomy.
macula adherens (maculae
adherentes) L. = a spot, a mark + adhaerere = to
stick to.
macula cribosa L. " + cribrum
= a sieve; site of foramina transmit nerves to saccule, utricle
& ampullae of membranous labyrinth.
macula densa L. " + densa =
thick; local accumulation of nuclei in distal convoluted tubule
of kidney; cf. juxtaglomerular complex.
macula lutea L. " + luteus =
yellow; yellow region in the fundus of the eye containing the
fovea centralis.
macula sacculi L. " + sacculus
= little sac; plaque of thickened sensory epithelium in wall of
saccule of membranous labyrinth.
macula utriculi L. " + utriculus
= little bag; plaque of thickened sensory epithelium in wall of
utricle of membranous labyrinth.
Magendie, François.
1783-1855 Paris pathologist & physiologist; foramen of M.
= median aperture of fourth ventricle (1828).
Maier, Rudolf. 1824-1888
German physician; sinus of M. = a depression in lacrimal
sac into which open the canaliculi of the lacrimal gland.
malleus L. = a hammer; one of
auditory ossicles shaped like round-headed Roman hammer used by
butchers for stunning oxen.
Mallory, Frank. 1862-1941 American
pathologist; histological stains; M.'s trichrome.
Malpighi, Marcello. 1628-1694 Rome
and Bologna anatomist, a founder of microscopic anatomy;
Malpighian capsule = splenic capsule; M. corpuscles = white pulp
of spleen (1669); M. corpuscles = renal corpuscles; rete
Malpighii = stratum germinativum of epidermis; pulmonary alveoli
of M.; canal of M. = longitudinal duct of epoöphoron.
mammary adj. L. mamma
= breast.
mamillary adj. L. = like a
little breast.
manchette F. = a wristband or cuff;
collar-like structure forming at neck of developing spermatozoon
during spermiogenesis.
Masson, C.L. Pierre. Montreal
pathologist 1880-1959; histological trichrome stain.
mast cell Ge. masten = to
(over-) feed; connective tissue cell (cf. Ehrlich) filled with
many granules of heparin, histamine.
matrix L.= a female animal kept for
breeding purposes; a synonym for L. uterus = womb; later,
the material which harbours something, as in "mother-of-pearl";
the ground substance of cartilage harbouring the chondrocytes.
Mayer, Paul. German histologist
1848-1923; stain of haematoxylin, alum and iodate.
Meckel, Johann Friedrich (the
elder). 1724-1774 Berlin anatomist, botanist & gynaecologist;
M.'s cave = dural space lodging the trigeminal ganglion (1748);
M.'s ganglion = pterygopalatine ganglion.
Meckel, Johann Friedrich (the
younger, grandson of above). 1781-1833 Halle anatomist &
surgeon; M.'s cartilage = a bar of cartilage around which
embryo's mandible develops (1820); M.'s diverticulum =
congenital diverticulum of ileum.
meconium G. mekonion =
discharge from bowels of a newborn infant, from G. mecon
= poppy (discharge thought by Aristotle to resemble poppy
juice).
mediastinum probably a contraction
of L. per medium tensum = that which is tight down the
middle (not from L. mediastinus = a subordinate domestic
slave, a servant at the public baths in Rome); now refers to the
mass of connective tissue in the central zone of a region or
organ; the central region of the thorax.
mediastinum cerebri an early term
for falx cerebri.
mediastinum testis thickened
portion of tunica albuginea on the posterior surface of the
testis, making a keel-like projection into the region of the
rete testis in the interior; body of Highmore, q.v.
medulla (-ae) L. = pith, marrow,
inner portion of an organ (from L. medius = in the
middle), in contrast to cortex.
medulla oblongata L. " + a
barbarism from L. oblongus = rather long; enlarged
portion of spinal cord as it enters foramen magnum of occipital
bone; a term introduced by Heister (c. 1740) and Haller (c.
1750) which replaced the earlier, more correct term medulla
prolongata (L. prologatus = prolonged); cf.
ligamentum nuchae.
medulla spinalis L. = spinal cord.
megakaryocyte G. megas =
large + karyon = nucleus + kytos = hollow vessel;
giant cell in bone marrow with multilobed nucleus.
Meibom, Heinrich. 1638-1700
Helmstädt physician, historian & poet; Meibomian glands = tarsal
glands of eyelid (1666).
meiosis G. meion = less; 1.
contraction of the pupil; 2. division of a germ cell (gamete)
where the number of chromosomes is halved from diploid to
haploid.
Meissner, Georg. 1829-1905 Basle
histologist & Göttingen physiologist; M.'s corpuscles = sensory
corpuscles in dermal papillae of glabrous skin (1852); M.'s
plexus = submucosal plexus in intestine (1862).
melanin G. melas = black;
natural intracellular brown pigment in eye, skin, etc. (melancholia
= black bile, one of four humours).
melanocyte G. melas = black
+ kytos = hollow vessel.
melanosome G. " + soma =
body; intracellular melanin pigment granules.
membrane any structure in the form
of a sheet that separates one region from another, e.g., a layer
of cells, a thin layer of connective tissue, a layer of
glycocalyx, etc.; plasma (q.v.) membrane = cell membrane.
meniscus G. meniskos =
crescent; intra-articular fibrocartilage with crescentic shape.
menix (meninges) G. menix =
a membrane, skin on old wine; a membrane in general;
specifically, the three membranes around the central nervous
system.
menopause G. men = month +
pausis = cessation; end of menstrual activity.
menstrual adj. L. menstruus
= monthly, from G. men = month; relating to the monthly
female sexual cycle.
Merkel, Friedrich Sigmund.
1849-1919 German anatomist; M. cell or M. disc = sensory
epithelial cell in stratum basal of epidermis.
merocrine G. meros = a part
of + krinein = to separate; exocrine secretion where bulk
of cell remains intact during secretion process.
mesangial adj. G. mesos =
between + aggeion = a blood vessel (G. "gg" is
pronounced "ng"); 1. the mesentery suspending a
developing blood vessel; 2. the extravascular tissue of the
renal glomerulus.
mesenchyme G. mesos = middle
+ enchyma = infusion; cells, fibres & fluids derived from
mesoderm (middle layer) of embryo.
mesentery G. mesenterion
from G. " + enteron = intestine; peritoneal fold
encircling most of intestine and reflected onto posterior
abdominal wall.
mesoderm G. " + derma =
skin; middle cell layer of embryo giving rise to connective
tissues, most muscle, circulatory system, urogenital system,
etc.
mesonephros G. " + nephros =
kidney; embryonic kidney (or Wolffian body) whose function is
eventually replaced by metanephros (definitive kidney); middle
of 3 stages in animals whose embryos have a pronephros as the
first stage.
mesosalpinx G. " + salpinx =
tube, trumpet; free margin of broad ligament containing uterine
tube.
mesothelium G. " + thele =
nipple; epithelium lining coelomic body cavities; most
superfical layer of a serous membrane (tunica serosa).
mesovarium NA. = mesentery of the
ovary, q.v. ("ovarium" is not Latin).
meta- G. = after, beyond, over.
metachromasia G. " + chroma
= colour; change in colour of a dye when it binds to different
components of tissue; a metachromatic dye may stain one
component differently to the background (or ground substance).
metaphase G. " + phasis = to
appear; mitotic stage after prophase when chromosomes appear and
line up in equatorial plane.
metaphysis G. " + phyein =
to grow; growth region of a long bone, situated between
epiphysis and diaphysis.
metaplasia G. " + plasma =
something formed; transformation of one kind of tissue into
another.
Methyl green a green dye.
microfibril a subunit of a
fibril, q.v.
microglia G. mikros = small
+ glia = glue; a small migratory, phagocytic neuroglial
cell of central nervous system.
microscope G. " + skopein =
to examine; adj. microscopic, relating to the anatomy seen with
a microscope, as opposed to macroscopic anatomy.
microsome G. " + soma = a
body; particles derived from centrifugation (at 10,000 times
force of gravity) of endoplasmic reticulum.
microtome G " + tome = a
cutting, incision; machine for cutting sections for LM.
microvillus G. " + L. villus
= tuft of hair; the electron microscopic structure forming
striated border of intestinal epithelial cells (Granger & Baker,
1950).
mitochondrion G. mitos =
thread + chondrion = grain, granule; cell organelle of
variable shape, sometimes thread-like, sometimes granular
(Benda, 1897).
mitosis G. " + osis = a
condition of; indirect division of somatic cells, in which
chromosomes become threads (W. Fleming, 1882); cf. amitosis.
mitral adj. L. mitra
from G. = a scarf, a waistband, a turban, a snood (a scarf with
strings which could be secured to head); mitral cell = a cell in
an olfactory glomerulus, q.v.; mitral valve = the bicuspid left
atrioventicular valve.
modiolus L. = a serrated screw or
borer; bony axial pillar of cochlea (Eustachius, 1563).
molar L. mola = mill (for
grinding).
molecular L. molecula = a
little mass;
molecular layer a layer of
cerebellar layer consisting mostly of unmyelinated fibres and
only a few scattered cells, like the molecules of a gas.
Moll, Jacob Anton. 1832-1914 The
Hague ophthalmologist; glands of M. = ciliary glands = apocrine
sweat glands of the eyelashes at border of eyelid.
Monro, Alexander (Primus).
1697-1767 Edinburgh anatomist; bursa of M. = bursa
intratendinea olecrani.
Monro, Alexander (Secundus).
1733-1817 Succeeded his father (Primus) as Edinburgh
anatomist; foramen of M. = interventricular foramen between
lateral and third ventricles of brain (1783).
Monro, Alexander (Tertius).
1773-1859 Succeeded his father (Secundus) as Edinburgh
anatomist; hypothalamic sulcus of M.
Montgomery, William Fetherston.
1797-1859 Dublin obstetrician; M.'s glands or tubercles =
enlarged sebaceous glands projecting from surface of areola of
nipple during early pregnancy.
mordant L. mordere = to
bite; a substance (e.g., ferric chloride) which allows dye
(e.g., Haematoxylin) to bind more efficiently to tissue
components.
Morgagni, Giovanni Battista.
1682-1771 Padua anatomist; columns of M. = anal columns; foramen
of M. = foramen caecum of tongue; fossa of M. = navicular fossa
of urethra; hydatid of M. = appendix testis; lacunae of M. =
urethral lacunae; sinus of M. = laryngeal ventricle.
morphology G. morphe = form
+ logos = study, knowledge.
motile L. motilis = moving;
able to move.
motor end-plate a plaque-like
site of multiple synapses between a motor nerve and a
muscle.
mucin L. mucus from G.
muxa = snot, slime; protein constituent of all mucus; occurs
as granules in secretory cells.
mucoid L. " + G. -oeides =
form; of a type of connective tissue with much mucus; Wharton's
jelly.
mucosa (-ae) L. = mucous membrane.
mucus L. = slime (adj. mucous).
Müller, Heinrich. 1820-1864
Würzburg anatomist; M.'s cells or fibres = radial glial
cells of retina (1856); M.'s muscle = 1. tarsal or palpebral
muscle, 2. circular fibres of ciliary muscle.
Müller, Johannes Peter.
1801-1858 Famous anatomist & physiologist at Berlin (son of a
Koblenz bootmaker); teacher of Henle, Virchow, Kölliker,
Helmholtz, etc.; Müllerian duct = paramesonephric duct of embryo
(1825).
multiparous adj. L.
multus = much, many + parire = to bear children.
multipolar L. " + polus
= pole; cell with many processes, e.g., a ventral horn motor
neurone.
muralium L. murus = a stone
wall; system of cells or tissues in interconnected sheets.
muralium osseum L. murus = a
stone wall + os = bone; network of cancellous bone.
muscle L. musculus, dim.
from G. mys = a mouse, a rat (whose body represents the
belly of a muscle, with head and tail representing the tendons).
musculotendinous junction a
junction between skeletal muscle and tendon involving
endomysium.
myelin G. myelos = marrow;
lipoprotein sheath around axons (Virchow, 1854).
myelocoele G. " + koilos =
hollow; the marrow cavity of the spine; pathological protrusion
of spinal medulla.
myeloid adj. G. " + -oeides
= form; of bone marrow tissue.
myenteric G. mys = muscle +
enteron = intestine (cf. Auerbach).
myo- G. mys = a mouse, a
muscle, q.v.
myocardium G."+ kardia =
heart.
myoepithelial a contactile cell
derived from ectoderm (as opposed to mesoderm).
myofibril G. mys = a mouse,
a muscle + L. fibrilla = small fibre; intracellular
arrangement of contractile proteins in myocytes.
myofilament muscle protein
filament, made mainly of actin, or myosin.
myometrium G. " + metra =
uterus.
Naboth, Martin. 1675-1721 Leipzig
physician and anatomist, chemistry professor; Nabothian glands
or cysts = swollen uterine cervical mucous glands (1707).
Nasmyth, Alexander. ?-1848. London
dentist; N.'s membrane = cuticle of dental enamel (1839).
navicular fossa L. navicula
= a little ship, a skiff + fossa = a ditch; hollowed out
proximal surface of the tarsal equivalent of the carpal
scaphoid, i.e., the navicular bone; navicular fossa of urethra =
dilated terminal portion of urethra in penis; navicular fossa of
vaginal vestibule.
necrosis G. nekrosis = a
killing; cell death due to external cause.
nephron G. nephros = kidney;
functional unit of kidney; adj. nephric.
nerve L. nervus from G.
neuron = a fibre, sinew (N.B. Hippocrates and other early
anatomists called all fibres "neurons", not distinguishing
sinews from peripheral nerves; later Aristotle used term to
describe a nerve in the modern sense); cf. neuron, cf.
aponeurosis.
nervus vasi (nervi vasorum)
L. nervus = nerve + vas = blood vessel; in tunica
adventitia.
nest a group or collection of
similar objects, e.g., a cell nest, a keratin pearl, q.v.
neurilemma (or neurolemma)
G. neuron = nerve (q.v.) + lemma = husk; delicate
layer extenal to myelin sheath of a Schwann cell around nerve
fibre.
neurite G. neuron = nerve
(q.v.); axon (= axis cylinder, q.v.) of nerve cell, conducting
signals away from soma; cf. dendrite.
neuroglia see glia.
neurokeratin G. " + keras =
horn; protein component of myelin sheath.
neurophysin G. " + physis =
growth; intra-axonal protein of pars nervosa of hypophysis.
neuron (or neurone)
G. neuron = sinew; nerve cell including its processes;
cf. nerve; cf. aponeurosis.
neuropil G " + pilos = felt;
tangled network of neural and glial structures around neuronal
somas.
neurotubules protein tubules found
in axoplasm.
neutrophil L. neuter =
neither + philein = to love; of cells with no strong
affinity for acidic or basic dyes; specific type of leucocyte.
nexus L. = a bond; gap junction
between cells.
Nissl, Franz. 1860-1919 Heidelberg
neurologist; N. bodies = chromatophilic granules or tigroid
bodies in neuronal soma, consisting of rough endoplasmic
reticulum.
nuclear fast red a basic dye.
nucleolus L. = a little kernel,
dim. of L. nucleus = a nut (G. Valentin, 1836).
nucleus L. = a kernal; 1. central
component in a soma (R. Brown, 1831), 2. cluster of nerve cells
in central nervous system.
nucleus pulposus NA. = central
gelatinous mass inside an intervertebral disc, remnant of
notochord.
Nuhn, Anton. 1814-1889 Heidelberg
anatomist; gland of N. = anterior lingual glands.
nulliparous L. nullus = none
+ pario = I bear (children).
numerical aperture product of
refractive index of medium between coverglass and objective and
sine of half aperture angle of objective lens, i.e., angle
between optical axis and the most inclined ray accepted by the
objective lens.
Oddi, Ruggero. (19th
centuary, no dates) Perugia physiologist; sphincter of O.
(1887) = circular smooth muscle fibres at termination of bile
duct, first described by Glisson, q.v. (1654)
odontoblast G. odons = tooth
+ blastos = germ; cells which produce and maintain
dentine.
oedema (-mata) G. oidema
= swelling; excessive accumulation of fluid in tissue spaces.
oesophagus G. oiso = future
of phero = I carry + pahgein = to eat; G.
oisophagos = gullet, or tube carrying food from pharynx to
stomach.
oligodendrocyte G. oligos =
a little + dendron = tree + kytos = hollow vessel;
a type of glial cell with few processes, responsible for making
myelin sheaths in the central nervous system (del Hortega,
1921); cf. Schwann cell.
oncocyte G. oncos = mass +
kytos = hollow vessel; solitary large glandular cell.
oocyte G. öon = egg +
kytos = hollow vessel (cell); germ cell in ovary.
oolemma G. öon = egg +
lemma = sheath; the zona pellucida, q.v.
ora serrata L. ora =
sea-shore, extremity of something + serra = saw; notched
anterior border of neural part of retina.
oral adj. L. os, oris =
mouth; e.g. os uteri.
orbicularis oculi L. orbiculus
= small circle, dim. L. orbis = a circle + oculus
= eye; muscle around eye.
orbicularis oris L. " + oris
= of a mouth; muscle around mouth.
organelle dim. of G. organon
= a living part of body with special function, hence a little
body; an intracellular component, e.g., a mitochondrion.
orthochromatophilic G. ortho
= straight, correct + chroma = colour + philein =
to love; of a type of erythroblast with a normal staining
reaction for haemoglobin.
os L. os, ossis = a bone,
e.g. os innominatum.
osmium tetroxide chemical staining
lipids black.
ossicle L. ossiculum = a
little bone, dim. L. os.
ossification L. os = bone +
facere = to make.
osteoblast G. osteon = bone
+ blastos = germ; immature bone-producing cell.
osteoclast G. " + klan = to
break; multinucleated bone cell that can reabsorp bone.
osteocyte G. " + kytos =
hollow vessel, cell; mature bone cell.
osteogenic adj. G. " +
gennan = to produce; of cells and conditions leading to
ossification.
osteoid G. " + -oeides = of
the form of; uncalcified, organic extracellular matrix of
immature bone laid down by osteoblasts.
osteon G. = bone; system of
concentric bony lamellae surrounding a canal containing nerves,
blood vessels, etc.; cf. Havers.
ostium L. = a door.
otolith G. otikos = of the
ear (G. ous = the ear) + lithos = stone; cystals
embedded in mucus of maculae of utricle and saccule.
ovary L. ovum = egg, L.
ovarius = a skilled and respected slave who looked after
chickens and their eggs; the female gonad (Stensen, 1667). NB. "ovarium"
is not Latin.
oviduct L. ovum = egg +
ductus = a path; salpinx; uterine tube; cf. Fallopius.
ovum L. = an egg; oocyte.
oxyntic adj. G. oxyntos
= making acid; parietal cells in gastric mucosa.
oxyphil G. oxys = sour,
sharp + philein = to love; staining readily with acidic
dyes.
oxytocin G. oxys = sharp,
swift + tokos = childbirth; a hormone producing strong
contractions of the uterine muscle.
Pacchioni, Antonio.
1665-1726 Rome & Tivoli anatomist; Pacchionian bodies =
arachnoid granulations (1705), q.v.
pachymenix G. pachys = thick
+ menix = a membrane; the dura mater.
Pacini, Filippo. 1812-1883 Pisa &
Florence anatomist; lamellated (onion-like) corpuscles of
Vater-Pacini in skin (1840); tendon sheaths.
palate L. palatum = roof of
mouth.
palisade L. palus = stake;
like a fence of stakes.
palmate folds cf. plicae palmatae.
palpebral adj. L. palpebra =
eyelid, from L. palpitare = to move quickly.
pampiniform adj. L.
pampineus = full of vine tendrils + forma = shape; a
tangled mass of veins in spermatic cord.
pancreas G. pan = all +
kreas = edible flesh; a sweetbread (though less of a
delicacy than the thymus); intestinal exocrine & endocrine
gland.
pancreatic islets small islands or
clusters of endocrine cells in pancreas; cf. Langerhans.
panniculus adiposus L. = a little
piece of cloth, a rag + L. adeps = fat (adiposus is a L.
corruption); the hypodermis (Berengarius, 1524).
Paneth, Josef. 1857-1890 Breslau &
Vienna physiologist; P. cells (1887) = eosinophilic cells at
base of intestinal crypts of Lieberkühn.
papilla (-ae) L. = a teat, a
nipple; a nipple-like projection, e.g., on the tonge (Malpighi,
c. 1670; cf. circumvallate, filiform, foliate, fungiform,
vallate); duodenal papilla (containing duodenal ampulla); optic
papilla; renal papilla (Berengarius, c. 1480-1550).
papillary adj. L. "; of the
most superficial layer of the dermis, containing fine collagen
fibres immediately under the epidermis; of cardiac muscle fibres
that form eminences on the inner surface of the ventricles.
para- G. = beyond, beside, near.
paradidymis G. " + didymos =
testicle; remains of mesonephros situated on the spermatic cord
above the epididymis= organ of Giraldès, q.v.; also =
organ of Waldeyer.
paraganglion (-ia) G. " +
ganglion = a swelling; clumps of chromaffin tissue scattered
alongside sympathetic nerves in thorax and abdomen; cf.
Zuckerkandl.
parakeratin G. " + keras =
horn; a type of keratin formed in superficial cells at sites of
abrasion and rapid epithelial renewal, e.g., gingiva, tongue,
tonsillar crypts, palate.
parametrium G. " + metra =
womb, uterus; loose, fatty connective tissue in the broad
ligament around uterus.
parathyroid G. " + thyreos =
a shield (cf. thyroid gland); gland lying "alongside" the
thyroid.
parenchyma G. " + enkeim =
to pour in; the essential functional cells of an organ as
opposed to its stroma, q.v. (NB. the accent is on the "e", not
the "y").
paries (-ities) L. paries =
a wall; cf. body wall around a coelom q.v.
parietal adj. L. parietalis
= relating to walls; the outer region or wall as opposed to
visceral.
paroöphoron G. para = beside
+ öon = egg + phoros = bearing; minute tubules of
the mesosalpinx lying adjacent to the uterine tube, derived from
caudal part of embryonic mesonephros.
parotid G. para = beside +
otos = of the ear; a salivary gland.
parous L. pario = I bear
(children).
pars L. = a part; a part of an
organ, or structure, e.g., pars iridica retinae; pars nervosa;
pars distalis, etc.
PAS periodic acid &
Schiff's reagent; histochemical stain for carbohydrates
involving production of aldehyde groups by initial treatment
with periodic acid, then reaction of these groups with Schiff's
reagent to produce a magenta colour.
pearl 1. a concretion formed around
a grain of sand, etc.; 2. a small tough mass of material, e.g.,
a keratin pearl, an enamel pearl, a pearl of mucus in sputum.
pectinate adj. L. pecten = a
comb; musculi pectinati = muscular bands passing forwards from
crista terminalis in wall of right atrium (including the crista,
resembles a comb).
pedicel L. pediculus = a
little foot, dim. L. pes; stem attached to growing
process; pedicles of podocytes in renal glomerulus.
pedicle L. pediculus = a
little foot (dim. of L. pes = a foot); stem or connecting
stalk of a tumour; bony process connecting the lamina of a
vertebra to its body; renal pedicle = renal "stalk".
pellucidum L. per = through
+ lucere = to shine; translucent; e.g., zona pellucida of
ovarian follicle; septum p. of brain.
pelvis L. = a basin.
penicillar adj. L. penicillum
= a paint-brush, from L. penna = a feather; branching
into many short segments, as in the penicillar arterioles of the
spleen
penis L. = a tail.
pepsinogen G. pepis =
digestion + gennan = to produce; a precusor of pepsin =
enzyme that aids digestion.
peri- G. = around, about.
pericardium G. " + kardia =
heart; of two types: visceral (covering the heart) and parietal
(lining the pericardial sac).
perichondrium G. " + chondros
= granule, gristle, cartilage; connective tissue and cellular
layer surrounding cartilage.
pericyte G. " + kytos =
hollow vessel; mesenchymal cell adjacent to capillaries.
perikaryon G. " + karyon =
nucleus; body of a nerve cell surrounding its nucleus; soma,
q.v.
perilymph G. " + L. lympha =
clear fluid; a bastard term (from G. & L.) for fluid in bony
labyrinth surrounding the membranous labyrinth; cf. endolymph.
perimysium G. " + mys =
muscle; connective tissue around a muscle fascicle.
perineurium G. " + neuron =
sinew; a lamellated sheath of connective tissue and cells around
a nerve fascicle.
periodontal ligament or membrane
G. " + odons = tooth; fibro-elastic tissue (including
Shapey's fibres) joining the tooth to its alveolar socket in the
bone.
periodontium G. " ; all the tissue
around the root of a tooth.
periosteum G. " + osteon =
bone; fibrous membrane covering bone, attached to bony matrix by
Sharpey's fibres.
peripheral nervous system nerves
and nerve cells outside the central nervous system; abb. PNS.
peristalsis G. " + stalsis =
a contraction, from stellein = to constrict; progressive
contractile wave along body tubes (Culpeper, 1655); adj.
peristaltic.
peritoneum G. peri = around
+ teinein = to stretch around; membrane stretched around
the lining of the abdominal sac and ensheathing some viscera;
adj. peritoneal.
Perls, Max, 1843-1881 German
pathologist; Perls' test for hemosiderin using the Prussian blue
reaction/stain.
Peyer, Johann Konrad. 1653-1712
Schaffhausen, professor of Logic, Rhetoric & Natural Science;
P.'s patches = aggregated lymphatic nodules in terminal ileum
(1673).
phagocytosis G. phagein = to
eat + kytos = cell + osis = a condition of;
process by which a cell engulfs foreign particles, dead
material, etc.
phalangeal adj. G. phalanx =
a band of soldiers (a Greek army division in battle order);
phalangeal cells = sustentacular cells in organ of Corti whose
processes extend upwards between the hair cells like fingers;
Deiters, q.v.
pharynx G. = throat; adj.
pharyngeal (? G. pharanx = a cleft, chasm).
pheomelanin G. phaios =
dusky red + melas = black; pigment found in red hair.
phlegm G. phlegma = thick mucus;
one of four humours of early physiology; thought to be a
discharge from brain; cf. pituitary.
Phloxine red cytoplasmic dye.
photoreceptor G. phos =
light + L. recipio = I receive; bastard term for
light-sensitive cells in retina.
physic G. physikos =
natural; the art of medicine.
pia mater L. pius = soft,
faithful (L. pietas was one of the cardinal virtues) +
mater = mother; delicate vascular membrane which adheres to
surface of brain and spinal cord, faithfully following their
contours.
picric acid a yellow dye.
pilomotor L. pilus = a hair
+ motor = mover; causing hair movement; cf. arrector
pili.
pineal L. pinea = pine cone;
cone-shaped gland of the brain; cf. conarium.
pinocytosis G. pinein = to
drink + kytos = cell + osis = a condition of;
process by which a cell takes in droplets of fluid.
pituitary L. pituita =
phlegm, snot; gland at base of brain thought to be responsible
for nasal secretion, via perforations in cribriform plate of
ethmoid (Vesalius, c. 1560).
placenta L. = a flat cake, from G.
plax- = flat- ; (Ge. Mutterkuchen = "mother-cake"
= placenta).
plasma G. = a thing formed; liquid
component of lymph, blood; NB. plasma membrane = cell membrane.
plasmodium G. " + -oeides =
like; a continuum of protoplasm in which many nuclei are
embedded, e.g., placental plasmodium = syncytiotrophoblast.
plasmolysis G. " + lysis =
solution; shrinkage of a cell due to osmotic pressure.
platelet OF. plate = flat;
small, non-nucleated discoids in circulating blood derived from
fragmentation of megakaryocytes.
pleomorphic G. pleon = more
+ morphe = form; varying in shape and size.
pleura (-ae) G. = rib, side;
serous membrane covering lungs and lining thorax; parietal and
visceral pleurae.
plexus (-i) L. = a braid; a
woven network of linear structures, especially nerves.
plica (-ae) a corruption
from L. plicare = to fold; in13th century a scalp
infection endemic in Poland was called plica polonica
(Polish plait); any kind of fold.
plicae circulares L. = circular
folds; actually transverse folds that are not circular in small
intestine = valves of Kerckring, q.v.
plicae palmatae L. " + palmatae
= like palm trees; flat mucosal folds like palm fronds in
uterine cervical canal.
podocyte G. podos = foot +
kytos = hollow vessel (cell); cell in renal glomerulus
with many feet (foot processes) and pedicels.
-poiesis G. = making or producing;
suffix as in haemopoiesis, leucopoiesis.
polar body the smaller
daughter nucleus of a fertilised dividing ovum.
polkissen Ge. = pole cushion;
extraglomerular mesangial cells at vascular pole.
polychromatophilic G. polys
= many + chroma = colour + philein = to love.
polymorphonuclear (abb.
polymorph) adj. G. " + morphe = form; having a
nucleus with different shapes (multiple lobes), e.g., a
neutrophilic leucocyte.
polyploid G. " + -oeides =
form of; G. = manifold; having several sets of chromosomes; cf.
diploid, haploid, aneuploid.
polysome aggregation of ribosomes.
pore L. porus = hole,
aperture; nuclear pore = aperture in nuclear envelope.
porta hepatis L. porta =
door + hepatis = of liver; fissure at hilum of liver; NB.
portal vein was vein entering porta hepatis.
porta lienis L. porta = door
+ L. lienis = of the spleen; fissure at hilum of spleen.
portal adj. L. portare = to
carry; of a vascular system carrying blood between infundibulum
and adenohypophysis = hypothalamohypophyseal portal system. (NB.
portal vein is named from L. porta = door).
postcapillary venules smallest
vessels which drain capillary beds into collecting venules.
postsynaptic membrane region of
membrane on a second cell opposite a synaptic terminal of the
first cell; cf. synapse.
prepuce L. praeputium =
prepuce or covering of glans penis (? from G. pro +
posthe = penis; or ? L. puteo = I stink, from smell
of smegma, q.v.; thus uncleanliness is figuratively termed
praeputia).
presynaptic membrane region of a
nerve cell at the synapse of a terminal bouton; cf. synapse.
progesterone G. pro = before
+ L. gerere = to bear; hormone from corpus luteum
preparing the uterus for pregnancy.
prophase G. pro = before +
phasis = phase, from phainein = to appear, to
show; first stage in mitosis of somatic cells.
prostate G. pro = before +
G. istanai = to stand, or ? L. statum = stood;
standing before; male gland at base of ("before") bladder;
Aristotle uses prostatai chirsoedeis = varicose prostate
= seminal vesicles; Herophilus (c. 300 BC) uses prostatai
adenoeideis = glandular prostate; Galen (c. 180 AD) uses
prostatai for whole complex of seminal vesicles and
prostate, based on animal dissections.
protoplasm G. protos = first
+ plasma = a thing formed; living matter (Purkinje).
proximal L. proxime =
nearest (to the head, to a source, etc.); opposite to distal,
q.v.
psammoma G. psammos = sand +
oma = tumor; laminated concretions found in the pineal
gland (cf. brain sand, acervulus)
pseudopodium (-ia) G. pseudos
= false, fraud + podos = foot; temporary extension of a
cell.
pseudostratified G. pseudos
= false, fraud; simple epithelium where not all apical borders
of cells reach lumen, thereby appearing to be stratified.
pseudounipolar G. " ; of a sensory
ganglion cell, bipolar in embryo, but in adult having one axon
which bifurcates into a central and a peripheral branch, the
peripheral branch behaving as a dendrite, q.v.; cf. bipolar.
PTAH phosphotungstic
acid and haematoxylin stain.
pubes L. = signs of manhood; hair
of genital region.
pulmonary L. pulmo = lung.
pulp L. pulpa = soft,
fleshy; central part of a tooth; parts of spleen; central part
of a finger.
pulvinar L. = a cushioned couch
(used by the gods); the raised posterior part of the thalamus,
q.v.
punctum lacrimale L. = a point + of
tears; opening of lacrimal duct at inner canthus of the eye.
pupil L. pupa = a girl,
damsel, a doll (as in puppet); L. pupillae = small
doll-like images seen mirrored in the eye, led to term
pupilla for the central aperture of the iris (Cicero).
Purkinje (Purkyne), Johannes
Evangelista, Ritter von. 1787-1869 Breslau pathologist, Prague
physiologist; famous microscopist; early use of microtome;
recognized importance of fingerprints (1823); P. cells = largest
cerebellar neurones with extensive dendrites (1837); P. cells =
conducting heart cells (1845); P. phenomenon = casting shadows
of retinal blood vessels.
pyknotic G. pyknos = thick,
close, compact + osis = condition; a nucleus with very
condensed chromatin; a shrunken nucleus.
pylorus G. pyle = a gate +
ouros = a guard; a gate-keeper, a janitor; distal,
sphincteric orifice of stomach (Galen, c. 180 AD).
pyramidal cell G. pyramis =
pyramid; cell in the cerebral cortex with a pyramid-shaped soma.
racemose L. racemosus = full
of clusters (like a bunch of grapes); of compound exocrine
glands whose grape-like acini are attached to branching ducts.
radicle L. radicula = a
small root, dim L. radix; adj. radicular.
ramification L. ramus = a
branch + facere = to make; branching.
Ramon y Cajal cf. Cajal.
ramus L. = a branch.
Ranvier, Louis Antoine. 1835-1922
Paris physician & histologist; nodes of R. (1875) =
constrictions in nerve fibre between adjacent internodes; R.'s
cross (1875) = intersection of stained glycocalyx & axoplasm
forming a cross at site of node.
Rathke, Martin Heinrich.
1793-1860 Dorpat physiologist & pathologist, Königsberg
anatomist & zoologist, embryologist; R.'s pouch = a recess
anterior to the buccopharyngeal membrane in the embryo (1838).
RBC red blood cell or corpuscle.
rectum L. rectus = straight;
terminal part of large intestine. NB. the rectum is straight in
a rhesus monkey dissected by Galen (c. 180 AD), but curved in
man.
refractile L. refractus =
ability to turn back, i.e., bend the path of light.
refractive index 1. a measure of
the extent to which a transparent object may bend the incident
light path; 2. the ratio of velocity of light in vacuum (or air)
to its speed in another medium; symbol
h = 1.33 for
water, 1.413 for lens of eye.
Reinke, Friedrich B.
1862-1919 German anatomist; crystalloids of R. = intracellular
rod-shaped crystal-like structures in interstitial cells of
testis (Leydig cells).
Reisseisen, Franz D.
1773-1828 R.'s muscle = smooth muscle fibres of
microscopic bronchial tubes, i.e., bronchiolar muscle.
Reissner, Ernst. 1824-1878 Dorpat &
Breslau anatomist, also Berlin; R.'s membrane (1851) =
vestibular membrane of cochlea between scala media & scala
vestibuli; R.'s duct = cochlea duct; R.'s fibre = fibre of jelly
in central canal of spinal cord.
Remak, Robert. 1815-1865
German physician & neurologist; R.'s fibres (1838) =
unmyelinated nerve fibres; R.'s ganglion = autonomic (as opposed
to sensory) ganglion cells in heart; showed cell proliferation
is due to division of existing cells, contrary to teaching of
Schleiden & Schwann.
renal adj. L. ren =
kidney.
renculus L. = a little kidney (dim.
L. ren); a lobe of the kidney, defined partly by its
papilla in the medulla.
resolving power closest distance
between two points at which each can be seen separately, using
naked eye or a a magnifier.
rete (-tia) L. = a net
(-work); a snare.
rete Malpighii L. " ; the stratum
germinativum of epidermis, called rete because of all the
criss-crossing tonofilaments which it contains; cf. Malpighi.
rete mirabile L. " + L. =
marvellous; sudden division of a vessel into a large number of
capillaries which then reunite to a single vessel, as in a renal
glomerulus, or swim bladder of some fish. Galen, dissecting
animals, also thought it erroneously to be present around the
internal carotid of man.
rete peg downward projection of
stratum germinativum, which appears peg-like in 2-dimensions,
but is really part of a ridge.
rete testis network of spaces in
the mediastinum testis.
reticular adj. L.
reticula = a little net; of a type of extracellular fibres
that form a network and can be impregnated with silver salts; of
a type of connective tissue with a network of many fine
branching reticular fibres; thickest and strongest layer of
dermis with many dense irregular collagen fibres.
reticulata (or reticularis)
adj. L. " ; e.g., zona reticulata (reticularis) =
deepest zone of adrenal cortex where cells are arranged in an
irregular network.
reticulocyte L. " + kytos =
hollow vessel; young red blood cell with network of basophilic
protein in an acidophilic cytoplasm
reticulum L. reticula = a
little net; cf. stellate.
retina from L. rete = a net,
based on an inappropriate translation of Galen where G.
amphiblestron = 1. that which surrounds the vitreous; 2. a
fisherman's net; the light-sensitive coat of eye (not like a
net!).
Retzius, Magnus Gustav.
1842-1919 Stockholm anatomist; lines of R. = concentric brown
lines in tooth enamel.
ribosome ribose + G. soma =
body; small cytoplasmic particle containing ribonucleoprotein
(G. Palade).
rima L. = a cleft, fissure; rima
glottidis = gap between vocal cords; rima palpebrarum
= gap between eyelids (later, margins of eyelids).
Riolan, Jean, the son.
?1577,1580-1657 Paris anatomist, botanist & pharmacologist;
R.'s muscle = 1. ciliary muscle (palpebral part of
orbicularis oculi), 2. cremaster muscle.
Robin, Charles Philippe. 1821-1885
Paris histologist; described osteoclast; also cf. Virchow-Robin
spaces = perivascular spaces around arterioles and arteries of
central nervous system.
rod terminal part of the dendrite
of a photoreceptor (sensory neuron) in the retina, responsible
for perception of grey tones at low light intensities.
Rolando, Luigi. 1773-1831
Turin anatomist; fissure of R. = central sulcus of cerebral
hemisphere (named eponymously by François Leuret after Rolando
had shown it to him, 1839-1857); substantia gelatinosa of spinal
cord.
Romanowsky, Dimitri L. 1861-1921
Russian physician; R.'s stain = a stain for parasites and cells
of a blood film.
Rosenmüller, Johann
Christian. 1771-1820 Leipzig anatomist & surgeon; organ
of R. = epoöphoron; pharyngeal recess.
rouleaux F. = rolls (of
erythrocytes).
Ruffini, Angelo. 1874-1929
Italian anatomist; R.'s nerve endings or bodies or
corpuscles = varicose sensory nerve endings surrounded by a
fibrous capsule found deep in connective tissues (1898).
ruga (-ae) L. = a fold or
wrinkle, e.g., in stomach, in vagina.
Ruysch, Frederick. 1638-1731
Amsterdam anatomist; master of the preparation of injected
specimens; described bronchial blood vessels, lymph valves;
established a suberb anatomical museum, which was purchased by
Peter the Great, but was destroyed en route to St. Petersburg
when the sailors drank the alcohol used as a fixitive and
preserving fluid.
Sabin, Florence Rena. 1871-1953
American anatomist; studied development of blood, lymphatics &
blood vessels.
sac L. saccus = sack, bag,
from G. sakkos.
saccule L. sacculus = a
little bag, a purse; 1. smaller of two sacs of membranous
labyrinth of inner ear, 2. saccule of larynx.
salivary L. saliva =
spittle.
salpinx G. = a trumpet; the uterine
tube.
Santorini, Giovanni
Domenico. 1681-1737 Venice anatomist; pupil of Malpighi;
caruncula of S. = orifice of accessory pancreatic duct into
duodenhum; duct of S. = accessory pancreatic duct;
superior nasal concha.
Sappey, Marie-Philibert-Constant.
1810-1896 Paris anatomist; S.'s plexus = plexus of
lymphatic vessels in areola of breast (caput medusae);
para-umbilical veins.
sarcolemma G. sarkos = flesh
+ lemma = rind, husk; plasma membrane plus basement
membrane of a single muscle cell.
sarcomere G. " + meros = a
part; repeating unit (segment) of myofibril from one Z-disc to
the next.
sarcoplasm G. " + plasma = a
thing formed; cytoplasm of a muscle cell.
sarcoplasmic reticulum endoplasmic
reticulum of a muscle cell.
satellite cell modified neurilemmal
(Schwann) cells which surround a cell soma in a ganglion.
Sattler, Hubert. 1844-1928
Austrian ophthalmologist; S.'s layer = elastic lamina in
the tunica vasculosa of choroid.
scala (-ae) L. = stairs,
spiral staircase, from L. scandere = to climb; any one of
three spiral passages of cochlea which lead to helicotrema, or
to cupula.
scala media G. " + L. medius
= middle; spiral of middle cochlear duct lying between scala
vestibuli and scala tympani, containing endolymph.
scala tympani G. " + tympanon
= drum; the spiralling cochlear duct below spiral lamina,
containing perilymph and ending at round window near tympanic
membrane.
scala vestibuli G " + L.
vestibulum = cavity at beginning of canal; the spiralling
cochlear duct above spiral lamina, containing perilymph,
beginning near the vestbule and ending where it communicates
with the scala tympani at the helicotrema.
Scarpa, Antonio. 1747-1832
Moderna, Pavia anatomist & surgeon, pupil of Morgagni; excellent
medical artist; S.'c canals = lesser incisive canals of teeth;
S.'s fascia = membranous layer of superficial fascia of abdomen
(1823); S.'s ganglion = vestibular ganglion.
Schiff, Hugo. 1834-1915 German
biochemist; S.'s reagent is Basic Fuchsin bleached with
sulphurous acid, used for detection of aldehydes; cf. PAS.
Schleiden, Matthias 1804-1881 Jena,
Dorpat & Franfurt botanist; early supporter of Darwin; plant
microscopist and discoverer of the universality of the cell in
plant structure (1838), cf. Schwann.
Schlemm, Friedrich. 1795-1858
Berlin anatomist; canal of S. = sinus venosus sclerae draining
aqueous humour at corneo-scleral junction of eye (1830).
Schmidt, Henry D. 1823-1888 New
Orleans pathologist; Schmidt-Lanterman clefts in myelin sheath;
internodes.
Schneider, Conrad Viktor.
1610-1680 Wittenberg physician; discovered location of olfactory
nerve endings (1655); membrane of S. (Schneiderian membrane) =
nasal mucous membrane = nasal mucosa.
Schwalbe, Gustav A.
1844-1916 German anatomist; S.'s ring = anterior limiting ring =
limbus marking edge of cornea at termination of Descemet's
membrane and anterior border of trabecular meshwork, q.v.
Schwann, Theodor. 1810-1882
Student of Johannes Müller in Berlin; Louvain & Liège anatomist
& physiologist; discovered pepsin (1835); recognized cell is
basic unit of life (1838, founder of cell theory with Schleiden,
q.v.); showed bile is essential for digestion (1844); S. cells =
neurilemma cells making myelin sheath; sheath of S. = neurilemma
= myelin sheath (1839).
sclera G. skleros = hard;
tough, fibrous outer layer of eyeball.
scrotum a corruption of L.
scortum = a skin, hide; scrotum cordis = early
term for pericardium.
sebaceous adj. L. = fatty; of skin
glands producing sebum.
sebum L. = tallow, suet, grease;
the secretion from sebaceous glands.
secretion L. secretus =
separated; production of materials by glandular activity.
seminal vesicle L. seminalis
= of seed + vesicula = a little bladder; accessory gland
of male reproductive system, which does not normally contain
semen, but may do so due to a post-mortem reflux.
seminiferous adj. L. semen =
seed + ferre = to produce; of a tubule in testis which
produces spermatozoa.
septum (-a) L. saeptum
= fenced in; hence, a flat partition; e.g., septum pellucidum.
serosa L. serum = whey; a
pale fluid; a serous membrane lining body cavities.
serous adj. L. = having nature of
serum.
serratus L. = notched like a saw.
Sertoli, Enrico. 1842-1910 Milan
physiologist, histologist; S. cells = sustentacular cells of
seminiferous tubules.
serum L. = whey (watery part of
curdled milk); yellowish watery fluid remaining after blood
clotting; adj. serous.
sesamoid G. sesamoeides =
like grains of sesame; of small bones formed inside tendons
(Galen, c. 180 AD).
Sharpey, William. 1802-1880 London
anatomist & physiologist; S.'s penetrating fibres = collagen
fibres penetrating into bone from periosteum or tendon, or into
dentine of tooth from periodontal membrane (1848).
Sherrington, Charles Scott
(Sir). 1857-1952 Liverpool & Oxford physiologist; Nobel Prize
(1932); dermatomes, the segmental skin fields of sensory nerves
(1892).
Shrapnell, Henry Jones.
?-1834 military surgeon, London; S.'s membrane = flaccid
part of tympanic membrane (1832).
sinus L. = a hollow, a curved
space; usually a larger vessel, or space, which may contain air,
blood, or lymph.
sinusoid L. " + G. -oeides =
like; a tiny vessel with a tortuous path and many connections to
similar vessels, e.g., hepatic sinusoids, bone marrow sinusoids.
skeleton G. skeletos =
dried.
Skene, Alexander Johnston Chalmers.
1838-1900 American gynecologist; S.'s glands = para-urethral
glands of female (1880).
smegma G. = soap; an accumulation
of sebum and desquamated epithelial cells under the prepuce in
the male.
soma (-ata) G. = body,
mortal part of body (as opposed to G. psyche = soul);
cell body.
somatic adj. G. " ; of cells of the
body excluding cells of the viscera and sex cells.
spermatogenesis G. sperma =
seed + gennan = to produce; process by which sperms mature.
spermatogonium (-ia) G. " +
gone = generation; the immature male germ cell.
spermatozoon (-oa) G. " +
zoon = animal; mature male germ cell (abb. sperm).
spermiogenesis process whereby
spermatid is transformed to spermatozoon, the last stage of
spermatogenesis.
sphincter G. sphinkter = a
binder, from sphingo = I strangle; a ring-like muscle
controlling an aperture.
spicule L. spiculum = a
dart; a hard, needle-like structure, e.g., spicules of bone in
cancellous bone (most spicules are lamellae).
spinosum L. spina = thorn.
spiral lamina a double plate (upper
& lower) of thin bone projecting from modiolus into cochlear
canal of bony labyrinth; site of inner attachment for basilar
membrane; dendrites of cochlear nerve run between the two bony
plates.
spiral limbus = limbus of spiral lamina
the thickened periosteum of the upper plate of the bony
spiral lamina
spleen L. splen, or (by
dropping "sp") lien = spleen.
splenic corpuscle elongated mass of
lymphoid tissue forming a cuff around a central artery or
arteriole of the spleen.
spongiose G. spongia = a
sponge, e.g., corpus spongiosum.
spongy bone cf. cancellous bone
which has numerous interconnecting spaces.
squamous adj. L. squama =
scale (of a fish), a paving stone; of an epithelium with flat
cells.
stapes L. = a stirrup, from L.
stare = to stand + pes = a foot (prior to c. 4th
century AD, Greeks & Romans did not have stirrups); smallest of
middle ear ossicles.
stellate adj. L. stella =
star; star-shaped; stellate reticulum is the pulp of the enamel
organ of a developing tooth.
Stensen (Steno), Niels.
1638-1686 Copenhagen anatomist; wrote extensively on anatomy in
Rome; became a catholic, Bishop of Titiopolis; travelled widely;
S.'s canals = greater incisive canals; S.'s duct = parotid duct.
stereocilia G. stereos =
solid + L. cilia = hairs; long, branching microvilli on
epithelial cells of ductus epididymidis.
stereology G. " + logos =
study, knowledge; interpretation of three dimensional form based
on study and mathematical analysis of two dimensional sections.
steroid G. " + -oeides =
form; sex hormones and adrenal cortex hormones.
stomach G. stomachos =
gullet or oesophagus, from G. stoma = a mouth + cheo
= I pour; lower end of the gullet; organ attached to lower end.
NB. Greeks used gaster for stomach.
stratum (-a) L. = layer,
bed-covering, sheet; of layers in the skin: cf. basale,
spinosum, germinativum, granulosum; lucidum, corneum; rete
Malpighii.
stria L. = a channel, a furrow, a
flute in a column.
striate cortex = visual part of
cerebral cortex, so named because of distinct stria of Gennari,
q.v.
striated border L. striatus
= striped; light microscopic term for the fine microvilli on
intestinal absorptive cells.
striated duct L. "; duct in an
exocrine gland characterised by radial streaks in basal region
of epithelial cells.
stroma G. = a cover, table-cloth,
bedding; strictly, an incorrect term for the internal supporting
frame-work of a tissue, or organ, as opposed to its parenchyma.
subcutis L. sub = under +
cutis = skin; hypodermis = superficial fascia = tela
subcutanea.
submandibular adj. L. " +
mandibula = jaw.
succus entericus L. = juice + of
the intestine.
succus gastricus L. = juice + of
the stomach.
sulcus L. = a furrow, from
sulcare = to plough.
superciliary adj. L. super =
above + cilium = eyelid; relating to eyebrow.
sustentacular L. sustentaculum
= a support, a prop; of nurse cells supporting the activity of a
principal cell type.
suture L. sutura = a seam
(in sewing).
Swammerdam, Jan. 1637-1680 Dutch
physician, became a melancholic and religious mystic; described
blood cells (1658), valves of lymphatics (1664); constancy of
muscle volume during contraction.
Sylvius (= François de la
Boë). 1614-1672 Amsterdam & Leiden physician; aqueduct or
iter of S. = cerebral aqueduct (1660); fissure of S. = lateral
fissure of cerebral hemisphere (1641).
symphysis G. syn = with,
together + physis = growth; a growing together; a line of
fusion between two bones; a type of joint where bones are
separated by fibrocartilage.
synapse G. syn = with,
together + aptein = to touch, to join; point of contact;
of junction for chemical/electrical tansmission between
contiguous cells, usually neurones (Sherrington); cf.
neuromuscular junction; postsynaptic membrane.
synapsis G. " ; the junction of two
homologous chromosomes during meiosis, to form bivalents.
synarthrosis G. syn =
together + arthrosis = of a joint; an immovable joint.
synchondrosis G. " + chondros
= gristle + osis = state of; a junction of two bones by
cartilage, usually the epiphyseal disc which gradually ossifies.
syncytiotrophoblast G. syn =
together + kytos = hollow vessel + trophe = nourishment +
blastos = germ; outer layer of epithelium covering
chorionic villi of conceptus.
syncytium G. syn = together
+ kytos = hollow vessel; a single multinucleated mass of
protoplasm with many nuclei.
syndesmosis G. " + desmos =
bond, ligament + osis = state of; a junction of two bones
by fibrous tissue, e.g., inferior tibiofibular joint.
synostosis G. " + osteon =
bone; junction between two bones made of bone, e.g., bones of
skull after sutures are complete (c. 26 years), junction of a
diaphysis with an epiphysis when growth of a long bone has
ceased.
synovia G. " + L. ovum =
egg; like egg-white; fluid in a freely moveable joint
(Paracelsus, c. 1520, first used the term for any watery fluids
from any organ).
synovial membrane the lining of a
joint space (other than the articular cartilage) which produces
synovia.
taenia coli L. = a tape, ribbon +
G. kolon = colon.
tanning F. tannin = acid
substance in tree bark; to make brown.
tapetum L. = a carpet, from G.
tapes; fibres of posterior part of corpus callosum;
tapetum choroideae = iridescent layer in choroid of eye of
certain animals, e.g, a cat's eye.
tarsus G. tarsos = a broad
flat frame of wickerwork (for drying cheeses on); supporting
plate of fibrous tissue in eyelid; skeletal frame of foot.
Tartrazine a synthetic yellow dye.
Tawara, Sunao. 1873-1952
Tokyo anatomist & pathologist; node of T. (1906) =
atrioventricular node.
tectorial adj. L. tectum = a
roof, a cover; tectum = roof of midbrain with the corpora
quadrigemina; tectorial membrane = spiral gelatinous layer in
cochlear duct covering the organ of Corti.
tegmen L. = a covering; cf.
integument.
tela L. = a web, a fabric woven in
a loom; of any web-like structure or layer; e.g., tela
submucosa, tela choroidea (part of choroid plexus of ventricles
of CNS); tela subcutanea.
telodendron (-ia) G. telos =
end + dendron = tree; arborization at the end of an axon.
telophase G. " + phasis = a
phase; final stage of somatic cell division when daughter cells
separate.
tendon L. tendo = I stretch
out; a tendon.
Tenon, Jacques-René.
1724-1816 Paris pathologist, surgeon & oculist; T.'s
capsule = fascia bulbi = fascia of eyeball (1806).
terminal bar light microscopic term
for junctional complex.
terminal web light microscopic term
for intracellular protein filaments in apical cytoplasm of some
epithelial cells.
testicle L. testiculus =
testis, dim. L. testis = a witness (in Roman law, witness
was legally admissible only if testicles present).
thalamus G. thalamos = a
bed-chamber, a temple; pre-Vesalian use: thalami cordis =
heart chambers; thalami penis = cavernous spaces; nuclear
mass in lateral wall of 3rd ventricle.
Thebesius, Adam Christian.
1686-1732 Hirschberg (Silesia) physician; Leiden anatomist &
pathologist; Thebesian valve = valve of coronary sinus
(1708); T. veins = venae cordis minimae = small veins of the
heart (1708).
theca L. = a sheath, an envelope,
from G. theke; e.g., theca folliculi interna & externa of
Graafian follicle.
theory G. theoreo = I
contemplate, consider.
thrombocyte G. thrombos = a
lump, a blood clot obstructing a vessel + kytos = hollow
vessel; a platelet (non-nucleated element of blood).
thrombus (-i) L. from G.
thrombos = a lump, a blood clot obstructing a vessel.
thymus G. thymos = thyme;
also soul, vital force; lymphocyte-producing organ in thoracic
mediastinum; sweetbread (origin is obscure: possibly resembling
the buds of the thyme herb; or close to the heart, the seat of
the soul).
thyroid G. thyreos = shield
+ -oeides = form; endocrine gland of neck, shaped like a
shield (Galen c. 180 AD).
tigroid G. tigroeides = like
tiger spots.
Tomes, John (Sir). 1815-1895
English dental surgeon; T.'s fibres = odontoblast processes
continued into tubules in dentine.
tonofilaments intracellular protein
filaments attached to desmosomes; cf. rete Malpighii.
tonsil L. tonsilla (origin
obscure); mass of lymphocytes close to an epithelium, e.g.,
lingual tonsil, palatine tonsil (the "tonsil"), pharyngeal
tonsil (adenoid, tonsil of Luschka, q.v.), tubal tonsil (of
auditory tube); also cerebellar tonsil.
trabecula (-ae) L. = a
little beam, dim. L. trabs, from G. trapes = beam,
rib of a ship; 1. bundles or sheets of fibres giving internal
support to an organ, 2. bony lamellae in cancellous bone.
trabeculae carnae L. = fleshy
beams; thick bands of cardiac muscle on inner wall of
ventricles.
trabecular meshwork = trabeculae at
angle of anterior chamber of eye where aqueous humour flows =
valvulae of Gerlach, q.v.
trachea G. tracheia = rough;
respiratory tube which, in relaxed state, has corrugations due
to cartilage rings.
tract L. tractus = a flock
of wool drawn out for spinning, a long piece of pastry dough, a
wide expanse; a bundle of nerve fibres in central nervous
system.
tragus G. tragos = goat;
cartilaginous projection anterior to external auditory meatus
(which may carry a goat-beard-like tuft of hairs on its internal
aspect).
trigeminal L. tres = three +
geminus = twin, triplets; fifth cranial nerve with three
main branches.
trophoblast G. trophe =
nourishment + blastos = germ; outermost layer of chorion
in a growing conceptus; with two sublayers (cytotrophoblast and
syncytiotrophoblast).
tuba auditiva L. tuba =
trumpet + auditio = hearing; trumpet-shaped auditory
tube.
tuba uterina L. " + uterus =
womb; salpinx; oviduct.
tubulus L. = a small pipe of more
or less constant diameter (dim. L. tubus = pipe).
tunica (-ae) L. = a shirt, a
sheath.
tunica adventitia L. " +
adventicius = coming from abroad; outer layer of a tube.
tunica intima L. " + intima
= innermost; inside layer of a tube such as a blood vessel.
tunica vaginalis L. " + vagina
= a sheath; serous membrane surrounding sides and front of
testis.
tympanic adj. G. tympanon =
a tambourine, a drum; referring to ear-drum (Fallopius, q.v.).
ultrastructure the structure of the
smallest elements, components of a cell or tissue as seen with
the electron microscope.
ultratome special microtome for
cutting ultrathin sections for electron microscopy.
umbilicus L. = navel, from G.
omphalos.
uncus L. = a hook; uncinate process
= hook-like part of pancreas.
ungual adj. L. unguis = a
claw, talon, finger-nail.
ureter G. ouron = urine +
tereo = I preserve; a tube carrying urine from kidney to
bladder (Galen, c. 180 AD).
urethra G. ourethra = tube
from bladder to exterior (Hippocrates).
urine G. ouron = urine.
uterus L. = womb (especially in
pregnancy), from L. uter = a large goatskin bag used as a
wine-skin.
utricle L. utriculus = a
little womb, dim. L. uterus; 1. larger of two sacs in
membranous labyrinth of inner ear; 2. utriculus prostaticus
= sac in prostate.
uvea L. uva = grape; the
middle vascular coat of the eye (when peeled out of the eye, the
uvea resembles the empty shell of a peeled concord grape),
includes choroidea, ciliary body and iris.
uvula L. = a little grape;
pendulous posterior end of soft palate used to produce gutteral
consonants (1695).
vacuole L. vacuum = an empty
space; a clear space in cell cytoplasm.
vagina L. = a sheath, a scabbard
(L. gladius = sword was a common Roman term for penis);
cf. evagination, invagination.
vallate L. vallatus =
walled, from L. vallum = a rampart; of largest lingual
papillae, surrounded by groove & wall; cf. circumvallate.
valve L. valva = a fold, a
leaf of a folding door.
van Gieson, Ira. 1865-1913 American
histologist & bacteriologist; v. G.'s stain = a mixture of acid
fuchsin in saturated picric acid staining collagen bright pink.
varicose adj. L.
varicosus = like a twisted vein, from L. varix (-ices)
= a twisted vein.
varicosity L. " ; 1. a dilatation
in a vein; 2. a dilatation in a nerve fibre.
Varolio, Costanzio.
1543-1575 Bologna, Rome physician & anatomist; pons
Varolii = pons of brainstem.
vas (-a) L. vas = a dish, a
vessel.
vas nervi (vasa nervorum) L. " +
nervi = of a nerve; blood vessels supplying a nerve
fascicle.
vas rectus (vasa recta) L. "
+ rectus = straight; straight blood vessels in renal
medulla.
vas vasi (vasa vasorum) L. " +
vasi = of a vessel; blood vessels supplying wall of a blood
vessel.
vascular adj. L. vasculum =
a small vessel, dim L. vas.
vasopressin L. " + OF. presser
= to press; hormone from pars nervosa of hypophysis increasing
blood pressure.
Vater, Abraham. 1684-1751
Wittenburg anatomist, botanist & pathologist; ampulla of Vater =
hepato-pancreatic ampulla at end of bile duct (1720); corpuscles
of Vater-Pacini = lamellated corpuscles in skin; tubercle of
Vater = greater duodenal papilla (1710).
ventral adj. L. venter =
belly; bellywards.
ventricle L. ventriculus = a
small belly, dim. L. venter; cavities of brain; largest
two chambers of heart.
Verga, Andrew. 1811-1895 Milan
psychiatrist; ventricle of V. = posterior extension of
the cavity of the septum pellucidum; canal of V. = small tunnel
in petrous temporal bone containing a vein.
Verhoeff, Frederick H. 1874-1968
Boston ophthalmologist; stain for elastic tissue.
vermiform L. vermis = worm +
forma = shape.
Vernier Pierre. 1580-1637 Paris
physicist; vernier scale.
Vesalius (Wesel),
Andreas. 1514-1564 Flemish (studied at Louvain & Paris)
anatomist of Padua, Bologna & Pisa; founder of scientific,
topographical anatomy; conducted public dissections at Padua;
criticised Galen; wrote De corporis humani fabrica
(1543).
vesica L. = bladder.
vesicle L. vesicula = a
little sac, blister or bladder; e.g., seminal vesicle.
vesicular adj. L. " ; like
blisters; of pale dispersed chromatin in a nucleus, a
vesiculated nucleus.
vestibule L. vestibulum =
entrance hall (where one takes off L. vestes = garments);
entrance to nose, mouth, larynx, inner ear, female reproductive
system.
vibrissa (-ae) L. vibrare =
to vibrate; hairs in nasal vestible which vibrate to air
currents during snoring.
Vicq d'Azyr, Felix.
1748-1794 Paris physician & comparative anatomist; bundle of V.
d'A. = mamillothalamic tract of diencephalon (1781).
Vidus Vidius (= Guido Guidii)
1500-1569 Paris physician, Pisa philosopher; Vidian nerve
= nerve of pterygoid canal (1611).
Vieussens, Raymond de.
1641-1716; Montpellier, Paris physician; anulus of V. =
ansa subclavia; limbus fossa ovalis; valve of V. = superior
medullary velum.
villus (-i) L. = a hair, (? from L.
pilus = a tangled mass of hair); a thin projection of the
lining of the small intestine, which resemble the nap of a
cloth.
Virchow, Rudolph. 1821-1902 German
pathologist & politician involved in public healthg issues; a
founder of German anthropological society; developed
understanding of the cellular basis of pathological processes;
Virchow-Robin spaces = perivascular spaces around arterioles
and arteries of central nervous system.
visceral adj. L. viscera =
body organs; as opposed to somatic structures.
viscus L. = any internal organ in a
cavity, from L. visco = I make sticky.
vitelline adj. L. vitellus =
a little calf, a term of endearment; the yolk of an egg (Celsus,
c. 10 AD)
vitreous L. vitreus =
glassy; gelatinous mass inside the eyeball with glassy
transparency.
Volkmann, Alfred Wilhelm. 1800-1877
Dorpat & Halle physiologist; V.'s canals = oblique vascular
channels in compact bone (1873); cf. Havers.
vomeronasal organ L. vomere
= to vomit & L. vomer = a ploughshare (which throws the
earth to either side like vomit) + nasus = nose; small
tubular epithelial organ located on antero-inferior surface of
nasal septum; organ of Jacobson, q.v.
vorticose adj. L. vortex =
eddy, vortex; venae vorticosae = veins with whirl-like
disposition around eyeball.
Waldeyer, Heinrich Wilhelm
Gottfried. 1836-1921 Brelau & Berlin anatomist; W.'s fascia =
rectal fascia (1899); W.'s organ = paradidymis; W.'s ring = ring
of lymphatic tissue at junction of oro- and nasopharynx (1884);
W.'s tract = tract of spinal cord white matter; eyelid sweat
glands; neuron doctrine = theory that each neuron was a separate
entity without structural continuity at a synapse (1891).
Weigert, Karl. 1843-1904 Frankfurt
pathologist; stains for bacteria, elastin (1882), myelin, cell
nuclei.
Westphal, Karl Friedrich
Otto. 1833-1890 Berlin psychiatrist; nucleus of Edinger-Westphal
= oculomotor nucleus (1885).
Wharton, Thomas. 1616-1673 London
anatomist & physician; studied thyroid gland; W.'s jelly =
embryonic connective tissue of umbilical cord (1656); W.'s duct
= duct of submandibular gland (1656).
white matter parts of central
nervous system where there are relatively large numbers of
glistening-white myelinated fibres and few if any neurons; outer
part of spinal cord; deep part of cerebrum and cerebellum.
white pulp the lymphoid tissue of
the spleen; cf. Malpighian corpuscle.
whole mount a name for a
histological preparation where the whole specimen is mounted or
spread on the glass slide; e.g., w. m. of retina; w. m. of
mesentery.
Winslow, Jacob Benignus.
1669-1760 Danish anatomist, Paris anatomist, renown teacher;
named many muscles; foramen of W. = epiploic foramen (1732);
pancreas of W. = uncinate process of pancreas.
Wirsung, Johann Georg.
1600-1643 (assassinated due to a quarrel of anatomy!);
Padua prosector; duct of W. = main pancreatic excretory
duct (1642).
Wolff, Caspar Friedrich.
1733-1794 St. Petersburg anatomist & physiologist, founder of
modern embryology; against idea that embryo was preformed;
Wolffian duct = mesonephric duct (1759); Wolffian body =
mesonephros (1759).
Wolfring, Emilj F. von. 1832-1906
Polish ophthalmologist; glands of W. = accessory lacrimal
glands.
working distance distance between
front of microscope objective lens & upper surface of
coverglass, with specimen in focus.
Worm, Olaus 1588-1654
Copenhagen classicist & anatomist; Wormian bones = tiny
irregular bones in the cranial sutures (also known to ancient
anatomists).
woven bone primary bone; a term for
immature bone (formed by direct or indirect ossification) where
the collagen and osteocytes are not organised into Haversian
systems and interstitial lamellae.
xiphoid G. xiphos = a sword
+ -oeides = form of.
xylene G. xylon = wood;
hydrocarbons from wood; a clearing agent.
Z-disc (or Z-band, Z-line)
abb. for Zwischenscheibe Ge. Zwischenscheibe = a
between-disc; dark disc in centre of I-band; end disc of a
sarcomere; Dobbie's line; Krause's line.
Zeis, Eduard. 1807-1868 German
surgeon; glands of Z. = sebaceous ciliary glands of eyelid.
Zeiss, Carl. 1816-1888 German
optician; commercial development of light microscope; with Abbé,
founded Zeiss optical manufacturing company
Zinn, Johann Gottfried.
1727-1759. Göttingen professor of Medicine, director Botanical
Garden; anulus of Z. = common tendinous ring of orbit;
zonule of Z. = ciliary zonule, q.v. = suspensory ligament of
lens.
zona L. = a girdle, a marriage
belt; e.g., in cortex of adrenal gland: z. fasciculata, q.v.; z.
glomerulosa, q.v., z. reticulata, q.v.
zona pellucida L. zona = a
girdle + perlucere = to shine through; refractile layer
of glycoclayx surrounding ovum in a growing ovarian follicle.
zonula adherens (zonulae adherentes)
L. zonula = a small girdle + adherens = sticking;
component of junctional complex.
zonula occludens (zonulae occludentes)
L " + occludens = ; component of junctional complex.
Zuckerkandl, Emil. 1849-1910 Graz,
Vienna anatomist; bodies of Z. = aortic paraganglia =
para-aortic masses of chromaffin tissue, q.v.
zygote G. zygoein = to yoke
together; fusion of male and female germ cells.
zymogenic adj. G. zyme =
leaven, ferment, sour dough + gennan = to produce; of the
granules in glandular cells producing enzymes. |