phlebitis

Term: phlebitis

Literally meaning: “inflammation of veins”

Origin: Anc Greek

φλέω/phleo(=be fruitfull or plentiful)

+ (-ίτις)/-ιτις (=-itis, suffix meaning “pertaining to” or “inflammation”.) It is in feminine gender because it was used with feminine noun η νόσος/ e nosos /(=disease)

Coined/History

German physician Rudolf Virchow(1821-1905)  who coined the terms thrombosis and embolism disproved the previous theory that phlebitis causes most diseases.

Definition

Phlebitis is the inflammation of leg or arm veins caused by various factors such as smoking, obesity and pregnancy.