pericarditis

Term: pericarditis

Literally meaning: “inflammation of pericardium”

Origin: Anc Greek

περί-/peri- (=combining form meaning  “around”)

+ καρδία /kardia (=heart)  > derived according Meletios(7th-8th cen AD) probably from verb >κραδαίνω/kradeno (=rattle, rock)

+ (-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

Definition

Pericarditis is defined as an inflammation of the pericardium characterized usually by chest pain.