hepatology

Term: hepatology

Origin  Anc Greek

ήπαρ/hepar(=liver) >genitive ήπατος/hepatos  

>έπαρ>επαίρομαι/eperomai(=expand) probably because liver has the capacity to regenerate after injury and to adjust its size to match its host.

In Greek mythology, Titan Prometheus, stole fire from god Zwus and gave it to mankind. Zeus then punished him to Mount Caucasus by having him bound to a rock while a great eagle ate his liver every. To make matters worse, the liver would grow back overnight and the whole ordeal would be repeated the following day.  After the thirteenth generations another Greek here, Heracles, appeared to save Prometheus by slaying the eagle.

-λογία/logia(=logy,  Suffix indicating branch of knowledge or “study of”)

Definition:

Hepatology is the branch of medicine which is about the liver and its diseases such as cirrhosis, hepatitis, liver cancer, liver transplantation, and metabolic liver disorders.