Reappraisal of the etymology of tendo Achillis: Achilles, the aggressor or the sufferer?

This study critically reassesses the etymology of the tendo Achillis, examining its connection to Achilles as depicted in classic epics. It challenges the interpretation by Joseph Hyrtl, first presented in the 19th century and still widely accepted, which credits Philippus Verheyen with the introduction of Achilles-related terminology in the late 17th century. Through an extensive review of anatomical publications from the 16th to the early 18th century across Western Europe, categorized into four distinct periods, this study investigates the origins of the nomenclature for the distal tendon of the triceps surae (DTTS = tendo calcaneus), including both the terminology and the narrative contexts beyond its anatomical functions. The findings reveal that names associated with Achilles predate Verheyen, contradicting Hyrtl's timeline, and suggesting a more intricate association with the figure of Achilles. This not only illuminates the development of one of the most recognized anatomical eponyms but also enhances our understanding of the interplay between medical terminology and cultural narratives.

Rectifying Controversial Medical Eponyms: Cleansing the Lexicon.

Applying modern race and gender concepts to medical literature before the early 20th century distorts cultural and historical norms. Removing eponyms from medical terminology erases history and contributes to selective memory. Eponyms in medicine provide insight into how societal culture has evolved as it progresses toward achieving gender and racial equality.

Terminologia Anatomica 2nd edition: perspectives from anatomy educators in the United Kingdom.

English anatomical terminology has evolved over the long history of anatomical practice, with major influences from ancient Greek, classical Latin, Arabic, and post-classical Latin. Beginning in the nineteenth century, there have been various attempts to standardise and rationalise anatomical language, beginning in 1887, and culminating in the publication in 2019 of the second edition of the Terminologia Anatomica. This paper presents a brief historical overview of the development of anatomical terminology and usage in English, followed by a summary of the results of an anonymised survey of current practices that was sent out by email to anatomy educators at 45 medical schools in the United Kingdom. This is followed by personal reflections by six senior academics and/or clinicians, reviewing their extensive experience of teaching, researching, and communicating the language of anatomy within United Kingdom medical and clinical institutions.

Perceptions of journal editors on the use of eponyms in anatomical publishing: the need for compromise.

While arguments have been made both for and against the value of anatomical eponyms, limited research exists regarding their use by anatomists. As the editors of the principal international anatomy journals have purview and control of terminology in anatomical journals, their perceptions regarding the relevance, ethics and inclusivity of eponym use in anatomy and in publishing in anatomical journals were investigated. A validated, confidential and anonymized self-administered questionnaire which included open-ended questions was distributed to the 22 Editor-in-Chiefs/Senior Editors of anatomical journals. Of the 16 (73%) editors who responded to the survey, only 56% were aware that eponyms had been censured since the time of the 1895 Nomina Anatomica. The majority of responding editors found the use of Latin- and Greek-derived terms more valuable when communicating with students and peers, but also thought eponyms were acceptable in manuscripts submitted to their journals. Thirteen (81%) of the responding editors agreed that eponyms play a vital role in the history of anatomy, and some thought they were important for discussing bioethics concepts. However, 62.5% felt that there were valid reasons for their discontinuation. Half of the respondents did not consider the continued use of eponyms an ethical concern. Responding editors of anatomical journals prefer the use of Latin- and Greek- derived terms when interacting with other anatomists and students. However, the continued use of eponyms was seen as an important opportunity for discussion on the history and ethics of anatomy.

Her Legacy Lives On: Celebrating the Women Behind Head and Neck Eponyms.

This article profiles 6 notable female scientists who have had eponyms named after them, highlighting their significant contributions to various medical fields and whose scientific endeavors have influenced our practice and understanding of otolaryngology. We discuss Lucja Frey Gottesman and her description of Frey's syndrome; Margaret Dix and the Dix-Hallpike test; Lotte Strauss and her work defining Churg-Strauss disease; Dorothy Reed Mendenhall's discovery of Reed-Sternberg cells in Hodgkin's lymphoma; Edith Louise Potter defining Potter sequence in utero; Denise Louis-Bar originally characterizing the condition now known as ataxia-telangiectasia or Louis-Bar syndrome. Despite the challenges these women faced as pioneering female physicians as well as personal and political turmoil, their contributions greatly advanced the fields of otolaryngology, neurology, neuropathology, perinatology, and pediatric pathology. We aim to honor their stories and medical legacies.

Medical eponyms versus acronyms: what medical terminology is most beneficial to learn? A question of goals.

Appropriate use of medical terminology is one of the core conditions for successful communication in monolingual and multilingual healthcare communities. The modern scientific language is based on the descriptive terminology. However, it is often the case that the advantages of descriptive terminology are at odds with the ability to express complex concepts in just a few words. To solve this practicality problem it is customary to coin abbreviations and acronyms preferred to traditional eponyms. Today eponyms are considered ambiguous and non-descriptive, linked to the terminology of the past. The overview of this study demonstrates that the current habit of using acronyms can increase the scientific descriptive capacity compared to eponyms. On the other hand, acronyms remain ambiguous and more ephemeral than eponyms. Furthermore, eponyms are not as descriptive as acronyms, but they still carry important information for a medical student. If you truly believe in the importance of Medical Humanities in the medical curriculum, two aspects cannot be overlooked. First, eponyms bring students closer in an almost subliminal way to the history of medicine and the non-strictly technical-scientific field of medicine. Second, medicine is a complex science applied to humans and must strive to keep the patient at the center of its interests. Patients and their families preferably ask us to use eponyms. Which terminology to choose for medical students? The teachers have the last word.

Call me by your name: Considerations of DNA sequences as types within wider discussions on fungal nomenclature.

This paper discusses the interaction between two substantial debates in taxonomy and nomenclature: The potential introduction of DNA-only types into fungal taxonomy and whether certain species names are offensive and should be changed. It argues that the acceptance of DNA sequences as types will likely lead to a proliferation of eponyms (species named after a person or persons) and that this will render them more likely to censure thus creating a point of instability in the fungal nomenclature. More fundamentally, it seeks to highlight the cultural and aesthetic attraction of names and to promote wider conversation on why we consider the Latin binomial central in our description of species.

Eponymous terms in acromioclavicular joint surgery.

Eponymization serves as a means of paying tribute to individuals who have made significant contributions to our culture. Each eponym is often linked with a story for everyone to discover. To aid in the retention of these stories, this review offers readers an overview of the individuals behind the eponymous terms, as well as their original descriptions, within the context of acromioclavicular joint pathology and orthopaedic surgery.

Terminological discrepancies and novelties in the histological description of the female genital system: proposed amendments for clinical-translational anatomy.

Histological terminology of the female genital organs is currently a part of the internationally accepted nomenclature Terminologia Histologica (TH), the latest edition of which dates back to 2008. Many new discoveries have been documented within 16 years since then, and many discrepancies have been found. This paper aims to revise the terminology from clinical and educational perspectives comprehensively. The authors thoroughly searched the current edition of "Terminologia Histologica: International Terms for Human Cytology and Histology," focusing on missing and controversial terms in the chapter Female genital system. The authors identified six controversial and ambiguous terms and four missing important histological terms. The authors also discussed the addition of less used eponymic terms in the histological description of female genital organs like Hamperl cells, Popescu cells, Kroemer lacunae, Balbiani bodies, Call-Exner bodies, membrane of Slavianski, nabothian cysts, or anogenital sweat glands of van der Putte. We expect the second and revised edition of the TH to be published soon and hope that the Federative International Program on Anatomical Terminology will approve and incorporate all these propositions and suggestions. We also strongly recommend using the official internationally accepted Latin and English histological nomenclature-the TH, either in oral or written form, both in theoretical and clinical medicine.

Gender and Racialization Status of Medical Eponym Namesakes: Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Many medical eponyms were established when women and racialized individuals were excluded from medicine. The objective of this study was to determine the gender and racialization status of individuals whose names are incorporated in medical eponyms. METHODS: This study is a cross-sectional analysis of gender and racialization of medical eponym namesakes. The main outcome measures were the study of gender and racialization of medical eponym namesakes found in Whonamedit, Mosby's Medical Dictionary, and the International Classification of Diseases (version 10). The gender and whether the individual was a racialized person were determined using pictures and other available information. RESULTS: We identified 3484 unique eponyms. White men represented the majority of medical eponym namesakes (2190 of 2327, 94.1%) followed by white women (85 of 2327, 3.7%), racialized men (49 of 2327, 2.1%), and racialized women (3 of 2327, 0.1%). In the ICD-10 sub-analysis, white men represented the majority of medical eponym namesakes (476 of 514, 92.6%) followed by white women (22 of 514, 4.3%), racialized men (14 of 514, 2.7%), and racialized women (2 of 514, 0.4%). CONCLUSION: Most medical eponyms represent men and white individuals, highlighting the underrepresentation of women and racialized individuals. This indicates a need to re-examine the ongoing use of medical eponyms which may entrench sexism and racism in medicine and contribute to an environment that makes some feel unwelcome or undervalued.

Formation of prokaryote names from personal names: a review of current practice and a proposal to emend Appendix 9 of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes.

The practice of naming elements from the natural world after notable individuals stretches back to ancient times. This practice of creating eponyms-terms derived from personal names-has been carried forward into prokaryotic nomenclature, where the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes (ICNP) sets guidelines for creating scientific names from personal names. However, these guidelines can be seen as culturally biased, disjointed and, on occasion, misguided. Here, with the goal of modernizing these recommendations to render them more user-friendly, coherent and inclusive, I review current practice in the light of precedents and key linguistic and cultural principles, while questioning the applicability of the first-name/last-name paradigm for many cultural traditions. Procedural challenges include romanization of the personal name (including handling of diacritics), creation of a short and agreeable latinized stem, assignment of the stem to a declension and addition of suffixes or compound word components to create genus names or species epithets, customizing the approach for names and stems that end in a vowel. I review the pros and cons of stem augmentation, which involves addition of an extra 'i' to the original stem. Next, I formulate a coherent workflow, which I incorporate into a Python script to enable computer-based automation of name creation. Rather than following the ICNP in limiting discussion to a few dozen mainly European names, I examine how these principles work out when applied to the tens of thousands of last names under which scientists publish in the PubMed database, focusing on edge cases where conventional approaches fail, particularly very short and very long names. Drawing on these explorations and analyses, I propose emendations to the advice currently presented in the ICNP to usher in a modern, consistent, pragmatic and globally inclusive approach to the creation of prokaryotic eponyms.

Creating the HAPS Physiology Learning Outcomes: terminology, eponyms, inclusive language, core concepts, and skills.

Learning outcomes are an essential element in curriculum development because they describe what students should be able to do by the end of a course or program and they provide a roadmap for designing assessments. This article describes the development of competency-based learning outcomes for a one-semester undergraduate introductory human physiology course. Key elements in the development process included decisions about terminology, eponyms, use of the word "normal," and similar considerations for inclusivity. The outcomes are keyed to related physiology core concepts and to process skills that can be taught along with the content. The learning outcomes have been published under a Creative Commons license by the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society (HAPS) and are available free of charge on the HAPS website.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This article describes the development of competency-based learning outcomes for introductory undergraduate human physiology courses that were published and made available free of charge by the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society (HAPS). These learning outcomes can be edited and are keyed to physiology core concepts and to process skills that can be taught along with the content.

Creating a multi-linked dynamic dataset: a case study of plant genera named for women.

Background: A discussion on social media led to the formation of a multidisciplinary group working on this project to highlight women's contributions to science. The role of marginalised groups in science has been a topic of much discussion, but data on these contributions are largely lacking. Our motivation for the development of this dataset was not only to highlight names of plant genera that honour women, but to enrich this information with data that would allow the names, roles and lives of these women to be shared more widely with others, both researchers and data sources like Wikidata. Amplification of the contributions of women to botany through multiple means will enable the community to better recognise and celebrate the role of this particular marginalised group in the history and development of science. New information: The innovative approach of our study resulted in a dataset that is dynamic, expansive and widely shared. We have published a static dataset with this paper and have also created a dynamic dataset by linking flowering plant genera and the women in whose honour those genera were named in Wikidata. This concurrent addition of the data to Wikidata, a linked open data repository, enabled it to be enriched, queried and proactively shared during the whole process of dataset creation and into the future. This innovative workflow allowed wide, open participation throughout the research process. The methodology and workflows applied can be used to create future datasets celebrating and amplifying the contributions of marginalised groups in science.

Call it as it is - Why medical education should reconsider disease eponyms.

Medical disease names should be reflective of the pathophysiologic processes underlying them. Medical education has propagated the use of outdated eponyms when referring to diseases named after individuals who discovered or described the diseases in question. This is confusing and harmful to medical students learning about these diseases and can present a seemingly insurmountable barrier to understanding complex pathologies. The renaming of diseases that are colloquially referred to by individuals' names is proposed. Medical schools are encouraged to adopt this nomenclature so that students will effectively understand pathophysiology and eventually provide optimal patient care. While it is not feasible to be completely systematic in this approach, striving for this change will enable a spotlight to shine on the disease and not the individuals who popularized the condition. Numerous examples are given of diseases that are either appropriately or inappropriately named, with recommendations for renaming given where applicable. An exploration of the benefits and disadvantages of renaming includes both historical and modern contexts for making the change.

Anatomia de A a Z - Desvendando a terminologia anatômica nas redes sociais: Relato de experiência / Anatomy from A to Z - Unraveling anatomical terminology on social networks: An experience report

Os termos médicos utilizados na morfologia eram provenientes de um nome próprio, com o intuito de homenagear os que descobriram ou apresentaram a estrutura anatômica, conhecidos como epônimos. Buscando unificar a linguagem anatômica e facilitar o processo de ensino, em 1989 foi criado o Comitê Federativo Internacional de Terminologia Anatômica (FICAT), cujo propósito era revisar os epônimos e atualizar a terminologia anatômica. Com o objetivo de apresentar os fundamentos e conhecimentos sobre a origem das terminologias anatômicas nas mídias sociais, a Liga Acadêmica de Anatomia da Universidade Federal de Alfenas (LAANAT/UNIFAL-MG), por meio do projeto de extensão "Anatomia de A a Z", divulgou conhecimentos científicos acerca da etimologia anatômica. Foram feitas postagens semanais no Instagram e no Facebook, a partir de publicações elaboradas pelos ligantes, supervisionadas pelos professores coordenadores e desenvolvidas no aplicativo Canva. Cada postagem seguiu sequen-cialmente as letras do alfabeto (de A a Z) e eram compostas da etimologia de duas estruturas anatômicas. Frente a uma análise de dados, observamos que em 23 publicações, alcançamos 712 curtidas, 194 compartilhamentos, 44 publicações salvas, 4739 contas alcançadas e 6608 impressões. A LAANAT promoveu, de forma clara e objetiva, a divulgação de conhecimentos das terminologias anatômicas ao público geral (AU).

The medical terms used in morphology were derived from proper nouns to honor those who discovered or presented the anatomical structure, known as eponyms. In 1989, anatomists founded the Federative International Program on Anatomical Terminologies (FICAT) to unify anatomical language and facilitate the teaching process by reviewing eponyms and updating nomenclature. Intending to present the fundamentals and knowledge about the origin of anatomical terminologies on social media, the Academic League of Anatomy at the Federal University of Alfenas (LAANAT/UNIFAL-MG), through the extension project "Anatomy from A to Z" disseminated scientific knowledge about anatomical etymology. Weekly posts were made on Instagram and Facebook, based on publications elaborated by the League members, supervised by the professors, and developed on the Canva application. Each post sequentially followed the letters of the alphabet (from A to Z) and consisted of the etymology of two anatomical structures. In analyzing the data, we observed that in 23 publications, we achieved 712 likes, 194 shares, 44 saved posts, 4739 reached accounts, and 6608 prints. LAANAT promoted, clearly and objectively, the dissemination of knowledge of anatomical terminologies to the general public

Eponyms for the Description and Classification of Calcaneus Fractures.

There are several eponyms used in the assessment and management of calcaneus fractures. However, the origin of these eponyms is no longer widely known. Named for orthopaedic surgeons who made substantial contributions to the management of calcaneus fractures as well as the field of orthopaedic surgery, understanding the context of how these descriptors were derived helps give context to their use in the present day. The purpose of this review is to provide a historical perspective and comprehensive collection of the most common eponyms related to calcaneus fractures.

Orthopaedic Eponyms: A Tool of the Past.

Eponyms are commonplace in the medical vernacular, however, their use has become increasingly controversial amongst clinicians. Whilst some view them as an honour bestowed on those whose achievements deserve recognition, others see them as thwarted with problems due to confusion, imprecision and unwittingly applauding controversial figures. Nevertheless, the history and culture retained within eponyms define modern-day medicine. To identify current trends in understanding of eponyms, we presented a questionnaire of orthopaedic eponyms and their associated imaging to unspecialised trainees, specialist orthopaedic trainees, and qualified consultants. Eponymous terms were poorly understood at all levels of experience, with- third and fourth-year Orthopaedic trainees (specialist trainee years five and six (ST5/ST6)) being outperformed (22.3%) by non-specialist postgraduate doctors with two or more years of experience (foundation year two (F2) and core surgery year two (CT2)) (29.3%). Based on these trends we present a further narrative review of the challenges eponyms present, whilst justifying their continued use to acknowledge the origins of our discipline, from the favourable to shameful.

Eponyms Describing Soft Tissue Pathologies in Orthopedic Hand Surgery.

Orthopedic surgery literature utilizes numerous eponyms, and they have become commonplace among orthopedic surgeons and the general public alike. These eponyms can have important historical implications and their history is often overlooked by the physicians using such terms. This paper seeks to specifically explore the origins of eponyms in orthopedic soft tissue diseases involving the upper extremity. Shedding light onto the origin of these eponyms can provide greater respect and understanding of their use in orthopedic surgery today.