diastole

Term: diastole

Origin: Anc Greek

δια-/dia(=prefix meaning through, apart) > probably from the root δις/dis(=twice)

στέλνω/stelno(=send)

literally meaning “a drawing apart”

Definition:

Diastole is the the normal and rhythmic relaxation (dilatation) of the heart during which  cavities fill with blood after systole (contraction).

dactylography

Term: dactylography

Origin: Anc Greek

δάκτυλος/dactylos(=finger) > δείκτης/deictes(=index finger) + αίρω/ero(=lift, rise)

-γραφία/graphia(=-graphy, a combining form denoting

 something written or represented as in words biography, geography, photography. > γράμμα/gramma(=letter)

Coined

(?)

Definition:

Dactylography is the scientific study of fingerprints in order to identify someone.

diatom

Term: diatom

Origin: Anc Greek

δια-/dia(=prefix meaning through,) > probably from the root δις/dis(=twice)

+τέμνω/temno(=cut in two )

literally means “be cut in two” or “be cut through” probably because they seem to have been cut in half.

Coined

(?) Van Leeuwenhoek observed diatoms as early as 1702 and diatoms were already used in geological research in the second half of the nineteenth century.

Definition:

The diatom is a type of microscopic, unicellular AND photosynthesising eukaryotic algae and one of the most common types of phytoplankton. Diatoms are characterised by cell wall made of silica (hydrated silicon dioxide) called frustule.

hepatitis

Term: hepatitis

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 (Προμηθέας), stole fire from god Zeus(Ζευς) and gave it to μανκινδ 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.

-ίτις(modern Greek -ίτιδα)/-ites (=feminine suffix which is used with the feminine noun η νόσος/ e nosos/(=disease),  denoting  “inflammation of”.

Definition:

Hepatitis is a medical condition which is characterised by inflammation of liver caused mainly by virus infection.

dyslexia

Term: dyslexia

Origin: Anc Greek

δυς/dys(=prefix used with a negative sense meaning difficult, bad, abnormal, misfortune) > δύω/dyo(=decline) δύση/dysi(=sundown)

+λέξις/lexis(=word)  >λέγω/lego(=speak, collect)

+ α/a(= feminine suffix)

Definition

Dyslexia is a generic term reffering to a person's learning disability  to read, write, and spell despite at least average intelligence.

drosophilla

Term: drosophilla

Origin: Anc Greek

δρόσος/drossos(=dew, young animal)

+φίλος/philos(=loving)

> φιλέω/phileo(=love, kiss)

+ α/a(= feminine suffix)

literally meaning "dew loving"

Definition

Drosophilla is any of a genus (in the family Drosophilidae), of tiny fruit flies (vinegar flies) used extensively, especially D. melanogaster*, in genetic research because of its large chromosomes, short lifespan and rapid rate of reproduction.

*Melanogaster> μελανός/melanos(=black) + γαστήρ/gaster(=abdomen)

colonoscopy

Term: colonoscopy

Origin: Anc Greek

κόλον/colon(=large intestine)>  the word κόλον is the pariciple of the verb κολάζω /kolazo (=punish, excaudate, cut)

+ σκοπός/scopos(=aim, look at)

literally meaning “examination of colon”

Definition:

Colonoscopy is the procedure of  endoscopic examination of the colon and the distal part of the small bowel, in order to diagnose unexplained changes in bowel habits, abdominal pain and bleeding from the anus.

cardiomegaly

Term: cardiomegaly

Origin: Anc Greek

καρδία /kardia (=heart)

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

μέγας/megas(=large)

Definition

Cardiomegaly is a medical condition which is characterized by heart enlargement.  

dysentery

Term: dysentery

Origin: Anc Greek

 δυσ-/dys-(=prefix used with a negative sense meaning difficult, bad, abnormal, misfortune)
> δύω/dyo(=decline) δύση/dysi(=sundown)

έντερον/enteron(=intestine)

>εντός/entos(=inside, within)

Coined

by Hippocrates (ca. 460 BC – ca. 370 BC)

Definition

Dysentery is an infectious

 inflammatory disorder of the intestine, usually caused by a bacterial, parasitic, or protozoan infection and resulting in pain, fever, and severe diarrhea, often accompanied  by the frequent passage of feces, usually with blood and mucus. Dysentery is spread in food or water contaminated by feces.

cystitis

Term: cystitis

Origin: Anc Greek

 κύστις/cystis(=pouch or anatomical sac eg bladder)

> κύω/kyo(=carry a baby in a sac)

-ίτις(modern Greek -ίτιδα)/-ites (=noun suffix denoting inflammation)

>-ίτις, feminine suffix meaning pertaining to, because it was used with feminine greek word «η νόσος».

Coined

By Hippocrates (ca. 460 BC – ca. 370 BC)

Definition

Cystitis is the bladder inflammation that it is caused, most commonly, by a bacterial infection, especially among women. The disease is characterised by burning sensations during urination, a frequent need to urinat and a feeling that bladder can't be fully empty.

azoospermia

Term: azoospermia

A+zoo+ spermia = not live sperm

Origin: Anc Greek

α (=(privative)

+ζωή/zoe(=life)

+ σπέρμα/sperma(=sperm, seed) 

Definition

A major cause of male infertility characterized by no measurable amount of live sperm in semen. The complete lack of semen is called aspermia and the reduced level of sperm is called oligospermia.

mesoderm

Term: ectoderm

Origin: Anc Greek

μέσος/mesos(=middle, intermediate)

δέρμα/derma(==skin beneath the epidermis)

> δέρμα --> δεσμά/desma(=bonds) because skin keeps the body tight

Karl Ernst von Baer (1792 - 1876 )

> δέρω/dero(=to peel, to flay)

Coined

Robert Remak (1815-1865)

German anatomist Christian Heinrich Pander (1794-1865) first described the existence of three germ layers in chick embryos. The concept was later extended by Esthonian embryologist Karl Ernst von Baer (1792 - 1876 ) to include all vertebrates. Finally Prussian embryologist Robert Remak (1815-1865) coined the names of trhee layers.

Definition

Ectoderm is the outmost of the germ layers formed during animal embryogenesis; This type of cell layer produces blood, heart, kidneys, gonads, bones, muscles, connective tissues. The other two layers are the mesoderm and ectoderm.

ectoderm

Term: ectoderm

Origin: Anc Greek

εκ, έξω/ec, exo(=outside, external) 
δέρμα/derma(==skin beneath the epidermis)

> δέρμα --> δεσμά/desma(=bonds) because skin keeps the body tight

Karl Ernst von Baer (1792 - 1876 )

> δέρω/dero(=to peel, to flay)

Coined

Robert Remak (1815-1865)

German anatomist Christian Heinrich Pander (1794-1865) first described the existence of three germ layers in chick embryos. The concept was later extended by Esthonian embryologist Karl Ernst von Baer (1792 - 1876 ) to include all vertebrates. Finally Prussian embryologist Robert Remak (1815-1865) coined the names of trhee layers.

Definition

Ectoderm is the outmost of the germ layers formed during animal embryogenesis; This type of cell layer produces brain, CNS and epidermis. The other two layers are the mesoderm and ectoderm.

somatotrophin, somatropin

Term: somatotrophin, somatropin

Origin: Anc Greek

σώμα/soma(=body)

τροπισμός/tropismos(=tendency of an organism to turn or move in response to a stimulus)

>ίνη/-in(=syffix that is used for prote-ins

Coined?

Choh Hao Li was the scientist who discovered and synthesised the human pituitary growth hormone known later as somatotropin.

Definition

Somatotropin is a growth hormone (Human Growth Hormone, HGH) peptide which stimulates reproduction and regeneration in humans and other animals. Somatotropin refers to growth hormone produced naturally in animals, whereas the term somatropin refers to growth hormone produced by recombinant DNA technology. . Somatotropin synthesized, stored, and secreted by the somatotroph cells within the lateral wings of the anterior pituaitary gland. 

endoskeleton

Term: endoskeleton

Origin: Anc Greek

ενδο/endo(=inside, within)

σκελετός/skeletos (= the group of bones of an animal body)

> σκέλλω /skello(=dry up)

> σκληρός/scleros(=hard)

Definition

An endospore is a dormant and temporarily non-reproductive structure produced by certain bacteria under unfavorable conditions. Although word “spore” indicates a “plant embryo”  the endospores are not offsprings but  bacteria in different state.  

endosperm

Term: endosperm

Origin: Anc Greek

ενδο/endo(=inside, within)

σπέρμα(=seed) > (=sow)

>σπείρω/spearo (=disperse)

Definition

An endospore is a dormant and temporarily non-reproductive structure produced by certain bacteria under unfavorable conditions. Although word “spore” indicates a “plant embryo”  the endospores are not offsprings but  bacteria in different state.  

endospore

Term: endospore

Origin: Anc Greek

ενδο/endo(=inside, within)

σπόρος(=seed) > (=sow,)

>σπείρω/spearo (=disperse

Definition

An endospore is a dormant and temporarily non-reproductive structure produced by certain bacteria under unfavorable conditions. Although word “spore” indicates a “plant embryo”  the endospores are not offsprings but  bacteria in different state.  

poikilothermy

Term: poikilothermy

Origin: Anc Greek

ποικίλος/poikilos(=variant)

θερμός/thermos(=warm)

>θέρω/ thero(=heat)

>θάλλω/thallo(=feed)

Literally means "various-heating”

Definition

(biol) Poikilothermy is in general the capasity of an organism to vary the  internal body temprature according to temprature of external environment. Ectothermy is also thermoregulation but this is generated only by internal means of metabolism.

  The opposite of homoethermy  is homeothermy.

endothermic

Term: endothermic

Origin: Anc Greek

ενδο/endo(=inside, within)

θερμός/thermos(=warm)

>θέρω/ thero(=heat)

>θάλλω/thallo(=feed)

Marcellin Berthelot (1827 –1907)

Literally means” within-heating”

Coined

(chem) The term was coined by French chemist and politician Marcellin Berthelot  (1827 –1907).

Definition

(chem) Endothermic concerns a reaction that absorbs energy. In the opposite, in exothermic process, it is released energy in the form of heat.