The word [hygiene] is defined as the "science of the establishment and maintenance of health"(Merriam-Webster). Another definition is "conditions or practices conducive to maintaining health and preventing disease, especially through cleanliness".

In Greek mythology Hygeiea [Υγιείας] is the goddess of health, one of the daughters of Aesculapius, who is himself the god of Medicine. Aesculapius was represented as a figure leaning on a staff around which a serpent is coiled.

The Greek word [υγιής], a derivative from the name of the goddess Hygieia means "healthy", "sound" or "strong", and became the root for our modern word [hygiene]. Because of its mythological origin, there must be something to the saying "cleanliness is next to godliness".

The image of the statue of Hygieia acompanying this article is known as the "Hope Hygieia" and is on display at the J. Paul Getty Museum.  The statue shows Aesculapius' snake, a symbol of renovation. This statue was discovered in 1797 at the port of Ostia in Rome. The statue was restored, de-restored, and re-restored. For more information of this statue's history CLICK HERE.

The [musculi levator labii superioris alaeque nasi] is one of the superficial muscles of expression found in the face. It is a small bilateral muscle found at the angle of the nose and its function is to elevate the superior lip and the side ("wing") of the nose, slightly opening or "flaring" it. When both of these muscles are activated the facial expression attained is called a "snarl".

My friend Dr. Elizabeth Murray calls it "a small muscle with the longest name in human anatomy". Fact is, I think she is right!

The term [cancer] is Latin and means "crab". The word was first used by Galen of Pergamon (129AD - 200AD) who used it to describe the crab-like appearence of the veins of a cancerous tumor, probably a breast cancer. Galen said "... as a crab's feet extend from every part of its body, so in this disease are the veins distended, forming a similar figure". The term cancer is also used in other applications, such as astronomy (Tropic of Cancer) and astrology, as in the zodiacal sign of Cancer. 

The Latin term [cancer] was probably pronounced "kanker" and this may be the origin of the term [canker] to refer to ulcerations around the mouth or angles of the mouth, canker sores. This is also probably the origin of the term [chancre] used for some dried-out sore wounds. 

Greek terms merged into the New Latin, so the Greek terms derived from [karkinos] also made it into modern medical terminology.

    Colon cancer. Click on the image for a larger picture of a different cancer. WARNING: The larger image could be disturbing.

The accompanying image is that of a colon specimen with a cancerous tumor. If you click on the image a larger depiction of a cancer of the breast will appear. WARNING: This secondary image could be disturbing to some of our readers.

Sources
1. “A Dictionary of Medical Derivations" Casselman W. Parthenon Publishing, 1997
2. "The origin of Medical Terms: Skinner, 1970
3. "Cancer - Wikipedia"
Images courtesy of Wikipedia 

Personal note: This article is published in memory of my cousin Hugo Barahona who passed away on January 1st 2014 with a cancerous pathology. May he rest in peace. Dr. Miranda 

The term [obstetrics] arises from the Latin word [obstare] which means "to stand close to" or "to stand in front of". Since a midwife "stands" in front of the patient for child delivery, the word was used in its feminine singular form [obstetrix]. The Latin plural is [obstetrices]; The evolution of the term into modern "obstetrics" is quite clear.

Through the ages the term used for someone who helps deliver a child has changed. Andreas Vesalius used the term [obstetrices nutrices] meaning "nurse nmidwife". The term "midwife" was used for a long time, being replaced today for the word "obstetrics" and "obstetrician".

As an interesting side note in history, the first male physician to attempt to work as a man-midwife was Dr. Wertt from Hamburg. Dr Wertt decided to disguise himself as a woman to attend patients. When he was discovered, the punishment was "swift and salutary": He was burned at the stake.

Intellectually gifted, Avicenna studied philosophy and the Islam religion, with early studies in medicine. By age 18 he was already a famous physician. With access to the royal library Avicenna continued his studies and traveled through what today is Iran. Avicenna had government positions, becoming prime minister. Jailed for political reasons Avicenna wrote a large number of his medical, philosophical, and astronomical publications while in jail.

Of over 450 total medical books attributed to Avicenna, his most famous publication was the “al-Qanun-fi-al-Tibb” or the “Canon of Medicine”, consisting of five books on principles of medicine, diseases, drugs, and compound medicines. The Canon was translated into Latin and later into other languages, remaining an important book for at least until the 16th century.

Sources
1. “Avicenna” Koontz AR JAMA. 1962;179(1):99
2. "Honoring Avicenna, the Great Persian Physician on the World's Postage Stamps". Afshar, A. Arch Iranian Med (1029-2977), 13 (5), 447
3. "Avicenna and the Canon of Medicine: A millennial tribute" West J Med 133:367-370, Oct 1980
4. “Avicenna (980–1037 AD) Zargaran, A, et al. J Neurol (2012) 259:389–390 5. “Avicenna” JAMA 177:704 (1961)
Original image courtesy of NLM

The root term [-salping-] arises from the Greek [σάλπιγγα] or [salpinx],  meaning "trumpet" or "bugle".  Because of their trumpet shape, there are two anatomical structures where this term applies, one is the uterine or Fallopian tube, and the other is the auditory or Eustachian tube.

This root term is used in medical terms such as:

• Salpingitis: An inflammation or infection of the Fallopian (uterine) tube

• Salpingectomy: Removal of one or both Fallopian tubes

• Salpingopharyngeus: A muscle that extends between the Eustachian (auditory) tube and the pharynx

Because of the rules of combination for root terms, the commonly used hyphenated [salpingo-oophorectomy] form of this word is not correct and should not be used.

Image modified from the original from Testut and Latajet, 1931