Medical Terminology Daily (MTD) is a blog sponsored by Clinical Anatomy Associates, Inc. as a service to the medical community. We post anatomical, medical or surgical terms, their meaning and usage, as well as biographical notes on anatomists, surgeons, and researchers through the ages. Be warned that some of the images used depict human anatomical specimens.

You are welcome to submit questions and suggestions using our "Contact Us" form. The information on this blog follows the terms on our "Privacy and Security Statement" and cannot be construed as medical guidance or instructions for treatment.

We have 109 guests online

A Moment in History

Jean-Louis Petit

Jean Louis Petit
(1674 – 1750)

French surgeon and anatomist, Jean Louis Petit was born in Paris in on March 13, 1674.  His family rented an apartment at his house to Alexis Littre (1658 – 1726), a French anatomist. Petit became an apprentice of Littre at seven years of age, helping him in the dissections for his lectures and at an early age became the assistant in charge of the anatomic amphitheater.

Because of Petit’s dedication to anatomy and medicine, in 1690 at the age of sixteen, became a disciple of a famous Paris surgeon, Castel.

In 1692, Petit entered the French army and performed surgery in two military campaigns. By 1693 he started delivering lectures and was accepted as a great surgeon, being invited to the most difficult operations.  In 1700 he was appointed Chief Surgeon of the Military School in Paris and in the same year he received the degree of Master of Surgery from the Faculty of Paris.

In 1715 he was made a member of the Royal Academy of Sciences and an honorary member of the Royal Society of London. He was appointed by the King as the first Director General of the Royal Academy of Surgery when it was founded in 1731.

Petit’s written works are of historical importance.  “Traite des Maladies des Os” ( A Treatise on Bone Diseases);  “Traite des Maladies Chirurgicales et des Operation” (A Treatise on Surgical Diseases and their Operations” This last book was published posthumously in 1774. He also published a monograph on hemorrhage, another on lachrymal fistula, and others.

He was one of the first to perform choIecystotomy and mastoidotomy. His original tourniquet design for amputations saved many in the battlefield and the design of the same surgical instrument today has not changed much since its invention by him.

His name is remembered in the lumbar triangle, also called the "triangle of Petit", and the abdominal hernia that can ensue through that area of weakness, the lumbar hernia or "Petit's hernia".

Sources:
1. “Jean Louis Petit – A Sketch of his Life, Character, and Writings” Hayne, AP San Fran Western Lancet 1875 4: 446-454
2. “Oeuvres compl?tes de Jean-Louis Petit” 1837 Imprimerie de F. Chapoulaud
3. Extraits de l'eloge de Jean-Louis Petit Ius dans Ia seance publique de I' Academie royale de chirurgie du 26 mai 1750” Louis A. Chirurgie 2001: 126 : 475- 81

 "Clinical Anatomy Associates, Inc., and the contributors of "Medical Terminology Daily" wish to thank all individuals who donate their bodies and tissues for the advancement of education and research”.

Click here for more information

abebooks banner

bookplateink.com

 

 

Pinna

Published: Monday, July 08, 2013 07:00 | Written by: Efrain A. Miranda, Ph.D. | Hits: 15647

The word [pinna] is Latin and means "feather". It also means "wing". The variation [penna] as in the case of [pennate], means "winged". It refer to the external ear, or auricle. It appears that the use of the term [pinna] for ear arises from the ear-like or winged extensions of viking and medieval helmets.

The ear has three components, the internal, middle, and external ear. The external ear is composed of the external acoustic canal and the pinna. The pinna is composed of fibrocartilage covered with skin, and has several ligaments and small muscles related to it. These muscles are  extrinsic (between the pinna and the skull) and intrinsic (within the pinna) All these muscles have limited capabilities in the human.

The pinna receives blood supply from the anterior and posterior auricular arteries, and a small branch of the occipital artery. The nerve supply is by way of the great auricular nerve, the auricular branch of the vagus nerve, the auriculotemporal branch of the mandibular nerve, and the lesser occipital nerve.

Lateral view of the pinnaImages property of: CAA.Inc. Artist: Dr. E. Miranda
The external (lateral) anatomy of the pinna is complicated and very detailed, with potential anatomical variations. Click on the image for a higher detail. The medial aspect of the pinna presents elevations which correspond to the depressions (fossae) on its lateral surface and they are named, eminentia conch?, eminentia triangularis, eminentia scaphoides, etc.
Back to MTD Main Page Subscribe to MTD