Medieval Medical Vocabulary


scabies: [Latin, scabere, to scratch] -- contagious itch or mange especially with exudative crusts that is caused by parasitic mites (especially Sarcoptes scabiei)

elephantiasis: [NL, L: a kind of leprosy; Greek, elephant-, elephas]-
1) enlargement and thickening of tissues, specifically: the enormous enlargement of a limb or the scrotum caused by obstruction of lymphatics by filarial worms (especially Wuchereria bancrofti)  2) an undesirable usually enormous growth, enlargement, or overdevelopment

edema(s): [NL from Gk, oidema, swelling, from oidein, to swell] -- 1) an abnormal infiltration and excess accumulation of serous fluid in connective tissue or in a serous cavity -- called also dropsy    2) a) watery swelling of plant organs or parts   b) any of various plant diseases characterized by such swellings

herpes: [L from Gk herpes fr. herpein, to creep] -- any of several inflammatory virus diseases of the skin characterized by clusters of vesicles

allopathy: [allopath from Fr: allopathe, back-formation] -- the treatment of diseases by conventional means, i.e. with drugs having opposite effects to the symptoms

manna: from Hebrew m(a-)n (note a- means long a)  :  the sweetish dried exudate of a European ash (esp. Franxinus ornus) that contains mannitol and has been used as a laxative and demulcent  [demulcent: (from L: demulcere, to soothe) a usually mucilaginous or oily substance that can soothe or protect an abraded mucous membrane]

senna: (from the Arabic sana):  the dried leaflets or pods of various sennas (any of a genus (cassia) of leguminous herbs, shrubs, and trees native to warm regions, esp. ones used medicinally) used as a purgative

enzootic: (from Gk: zoion, zoe = life, en = in) of animal diseases: peculiar to or constantly present in a locality; similar to endemic

vitiligo: (fr L: tetter (to tear/destroy???) [note that tetter is a word in the dictionary which originates in ME/OE, Old High German meaning to destroy ]: a skin disorder manifested by smooth white spots on various parts of the body; alt: skin abnormality characterized by loss of pigment in areas of avrious shapes and sizes and by producing whitepatches surrounded by heavily pigmented borders

psoriasis: [Gk: psorian = to have the itch, from psora = itch, akin to Gk psen = to rub]:  a chronic skin disease characterized by circumscribed red patches covered with white scales [or, recurring inflammation and scaly patches]

meningitis: inflammation of meninges of brain and spinal cord

homeopathy: system of medical practice that treats disease by administering minute doses of a remedy that would produce symptoms of the disease in a healthy person

clavicle: collarbone; a bone in man situated just above the first rib on either side of the neck and having the form of a narrow elongated S

albugineus: ????? couldn't find it

iris: the opaque muscular contractile diaphragm that is suspended in the aqueous humor in front of the lens of the eye, is perforated by the pupil

matrix: intercellular substance of a tissue (cartilage)

mesentery: the membranes or one of the membranes that consist of a double fold of the peritoneum and enclosed tissue and in a vertebrate animal invest the intestines and their appendages, connect them with dorsal wall of abdominal cavity and serve to retain the organs in position and support and convey to them blood vessels, nerves and lymphatics

polymath:  one who is learned in many different fields or disciplines

necromancy:  divination by means of pretended communication with the dead - black magic; sorcery

luxation: (to luxate) to put out of joint; dislocate

pot-pourri:  a ragout of meats and vegetables; stew. - a jar [or sachet] containing a sweet smelling mixture

lazaretto:  a hospital; a quarantine building.  also Nazaret: a Venetian church used as a plague hospital in the 15th e.; infl. in form by lazzaro (a leper)

scrofula:  (n) primary tuberculosis of the lymphatic glands, esp. of the
neck.  [1350-1400; < LLscrofulae (L scrof(a) sow), from the belief that
breeding sows were suseptible]

iatrogenic:  (adj) induced unintentionally by the medical treatment of a
physician:  iatrogenic symptoms.  [1920-25; < Gk iatro(s) healer + -genic]

tetanus:  (n) 1.  an infectious disease characterized by tonic spasms
and rigidity of muscles, esp. of the lower jaw and neck, caused by a
bacterium, Clostridium tetani, which commonly enters the body through wounds and cuts.  2.  sustained contraction of a muscle, esp. when induced
experimentally or by a poison.  [1350-1400;  ME tetane < L tetanus < Gk
tetanos muscle spasm, tetanus]

dropsy:  (n)  (formerly edema)  accumulation of fluid in the tissue
spaces, cavities, or joint capsules of the body, causing swelling of the
area.  [1250-1300;  < OF< ML (h)ydropsia, ult. < Gk hydropiasis, der. of
hydrops edema]

septicemia:  (n) the presence of pathogenic bacteria in the bloodstream

pancreas: [fr. Greek pan(all) + kreas(flesh,meat)] a large gland of vertebrates which secretes digestive enzymes and the hormone insulin.  It is approx. 13 cm long and contains a main duct that runs the length of the organ and empties into the duodenum (part of the small intestine).

pancreatic duct: -see above -the primary secretory channel of the pancreas

ventricles of the brain: [fr. L: ventr-,venter (belly)] -in general, a ventricle is a cavity of a body part or organ.  A ventricle of the brain is any of the system of communicating cavities in the brain that are continuous with the central canal of the spinal cord.  A cavity filled with cerebrospinal fluid in the brain

larynx: [-fr Gk: larynx] the modified upper part of the trachea of air-breathing vertebrates that in man, most other mammals, and a few lower forms, contains the vocal cords.  It accounts for a large bump in the neck called the Adam's Apple.  -note: the trachea is the main trunk of the system of tubes by which air passes to and from lungs in vertebrates.

epiglottis: [fr Gk epi(above,over) + glossa(tongue)] -a cartilaginous structure that overhangs the larynx like a lid and prevents food from entering the larynx and trachea while swallowing.

basilica: basilic vein, vena basilica -- a vein that drains the back of the
hand and forearm and empties into the axillary vein.

cephalica: cephalic vein, vena cephalica -- a large vein of the arm that
empties into the axillary vein.

retina: the light-sensitive membrane covering the interior back wall of the eyeball; it is continuous with the optic nerve

saphena: saphenous vein, vena saphena -- either of two chief superficial
veins of the leg that drain blood from the foot.

sesamoid: Pertaining to the small bones or cartilage formed in tendons, like
the patella (knee cap) or bones in the balls of the feet or hands (near the
base of the thumb)  [Fr. Gk: like sesame; sesame + form: sesamoide].

cassia:  the bark of a tree of the laurel family, native to Southeast Asia, used as the source of coarse variety of cinnamon.

electuary:  a medicine made by mixing drugs with honey or syrup to form a paste.