gynecomastia

Term: gynecomastia

Literally meaning: “wοman’s breast”

Origin: Anc Greek

γυνή/gyne (=woman, female) > genitive γυναικός/gynecos > γόνος/gonos(=offspring) + ίκω/ico(=carry)

+μαστός/mastos(=breast)

Coined/History 

The term is attributed to Greek phycisian Galen of Pergamon (130–200 AD) . He described gynecomastia as an abnormal increase in the fat eithin the male breast, considered male breast gland enlargment as different condition. Byzantine physician Paulus of Aegina (7^th cen) described in his collection, known as the “Medical Compendium in Seven Books” a treatment detailing a male breast operation. This collection was published in the original Greek in Venice in 1528. In these books is pointed out the importance of fat deposition to some and not all cases and the transient nature of gynecomastia.

Sourse

(Aegineta.), Paulus (1846).  The seven books of Paulus/Egineta. Printed for the Sydenham Society. Retrieved 27 May 2011.

Definition

Gynecomastia is breast enlargment in males due to abnormal development of mammary glands. In newborns usually for a couple of weeks, breast development is caused by mother’s female hormones, and may be associated with milk flow may. In adolesene gynecomastia is not unvcommon and usually goes away over a preiod of months. Gynecomastia also is common among elderly men and is associated with weight gain because of fat accumulation(pseudogynecomastia). Gynecomastia although is temporal and benighn needs always medical evaluation as in some cases indicates a serious underling problem (e.g. testicular tumor).