leiomyoma

Term: leiomyoma (or fibroids, or myoma)

Literally meaning: “growth of smooth muscles”

Origin: Anc Greek

λείος/leios(=smooth) > αλέω/aleo(=to grind)

+μυο-/myo-(=comping form meaning muscle) > μυς/mys/ (=muscle) > μύω/myo(=enclosed like the muscle inside body or rat in its nest=epimys)

+(-ωμα)/(-oma)=suffix denoting state or condition of mass growth

Coined/History

Leiomyoma was known as “the uterine stone” by Hippocrates (460-375 B.C) or “scleromas” by Galen (ca 130-200). The term fibroids was coined in 1860 by Karl von Rokitansky and in 1863 by M.M. Klob but in 1854 German physician Rudolf Virchow (1821-1905) demonstrated that these lesions were composed from smooth muscles and introduced the term myoma.

Source

Nilo Bozini, Edmund C Baracat, Division of Ginecology- Medical School of University of Sao Paolo. The history of Myomectomy at the Medical School of University of Sao Paolo. Clinics vol 62 no3 (2007).

Definition

Leioma is a benign smooth muscle tumour most often in uterus, esophagus and small bowel.