The Latin word [caput] means "head" and the word [medusae] is also Latin and means "Medusa's".  [Caput medusae] means "Medusa's head". Medusa is a Greek mythological figure, ruler of the Gorgons; in her mortal form she had a head covered with snakes and looking into her eyes would cause an observer to turn into a stone statue. She was killed by Perseus who used a shield to see her reflection without turning to stone and was thus able to cut her head off.

The term [caput medusae] is used in medical terminology to denote a medical sign, a crown of engorged veins that radiate from the umbilicus. These engorged veins are caused by increased hepatic portal pressure (portal hypoertension) which causes retrograde flow in the veins from the abdominal cavity to the superficial cutaneous veins, engorging them.

The caput medusae sign is usually seen in patients with advanced hepatic cirrhosis.

Medusa's head images courtey of  Wikipedia. 

The [splenic artery], also known as the [lienal artery] is one of the branches of the celiac trunk, the first unpaired branch of the abdominal aorta. Through its branches the splenic artery provides arterial blood supply to the stomach, pancreas, and spleen.

From its origin at the celiac trunk, the splenic artery goes to the left and then curves posteriorly around the spinal column. It has a very tortuous shape. In 1571 Julius Arantius (1530 -1589) described it as "tortuous, in the manner of a snake". A study by Sylvester et al (1998) measured the uncoiled (straight) lenght of the splenic artery (5.8 - 11.3 cm) as well as the variation in coiling (tortuosity) of the artery.

The splenic artery has several branches: 

• Left gastroepiploic artery: The largest of the splenic artery branches, this artery forms part of the greater curvature vascular arcade and provides blood supply to the left side of the stomach and part of the greater omentum

• Short gastric arteries: These are several short branches that course within the gastrosplenic ligament the connects the spleen to the greater curvature and fundus of the stomach. Take down of these branches is critical in certain procedures for esophageal hiatus hernia

• Splenic branches: The terminal branches of the splenic artery supply the spleen. It usually divides into a superior and an inferior branch, each one giving up to four branches that enter through the hilum of the spleen

Although rare, the splenic artery can be the site for an aneurysm. It is the third most common abominal aneurysm, after abdominal aorta and iliac artery aneurysms. They are being diagnosed more frequently now as incidental findings in cross-sectional imaging.

Sources:
1. "Tratado de Anatomia Humana" Testut et Latarjet 8 Ed. 1931 Salvat Editores, Spain
2. "Tortuosity of the Human Splenic Artery" Sylvester, PA, Stewart R, Ellis, H. Clin Anat (1996):8:214-218
3. "Splenic artery aneurysms"Trastek VF, et al. Surgery (1982) 91:694-699
9. "Splenic Artery Aneurysms and Pseudoaneurysms: Clinical Distinctions and CT Appearances" Agrawal, GA. Johnson, PT. Fishman EK. Am J Roentg (2007) 188: 4; 992-999

The term [tenia coli] is Latin and refers to three longitudinal whitish bands of tissue seen on the surface of the colon. An alternate spelling for this term is [taenia coli].

The word [tenia] is Latin are means "ribbon" or "tape". It is a term used to describe tapeworms. [Coli] is also Latin and means "pertaining to the colon". See accompanying image. Click the image for a larger depiction.

The tenia coli are formed by the gathering or grouping of the longitudinal (external) muscle layer found in the components of the digestive system. While in most of the organs the longitudinal layer is spread out around the organ, in the colon the grouping of the fibers form these three longitudinal bands. The contant tonic contraction of these bands of muscle cause the colonic wall to bunch forming sacculations known as "haustra".

The tenia coli of the cecum converge at the base of the vermiform appendix. This is one anatomical constant used by surgeons to localize and identify the vermiform appendix.

There are three tenia coli best seen in the transverse colon. Because of their relationship with the omentum and the transverse mesocolon, two of them are known as the [tenia omentalis] and the [tenia mesocolica] respectively. The third one is free, and is the easiest one to observe; it is called the "free tenia" or [tenia libera].

Image modified from the original from Testut and Latajet, 1931

Since the small intestine is not necessarily always small in relation to the colon (because of food content, intestinal gases, or pathology), the location of the organ and the presence of haustra, as well as the presence of tenia coli and appendices epiploica, is used to recognize the organ as colon.

Sources:
1. "Dorlands's Illustrated Medical Dictionary" 26th Ed. W.B. Saunders 1994
2. "The origin of Medical Terms" Skinner, AH, 1970
3. "Tratado de Anatomia Humana" Testut et Latarjet 8 Ed. 1931 Salvat Editores, Spain
Image modified from the original from Testut and Latajet, 1931

The word [haustrum] is Latin and refers to a sac or scoop-like leather bucket used by the Romans to draw water out of a well. The plural form is [haustra].

In anatomy, the word [haustrum] is used to refer to a sacculation or outpouching of the colon caused by the constant tonus contraction of the longitudinal muscle fibers found in the tenia coli, as well as the distribution of circular fibers. See accompanying image. Click the image for a larger depiction.

Since the small intestine is not necessarily always small in relation to the colon (because of food content, intestinal gases, or pathology), the location of the organ and the presence of haustra, as well as the presence of tenia coli and appendices epiploica, is used to recognize the organ as colon.

The term can also be used as an adjective and the colon can be said to be "haustrated".

The word seems to have been used for the first time by Albrecht Von Haller (1708 - 1777) a Swiss anatomist, botanist, and physiologist.

Sources:
1. "Dorlands's Illustrated Medical Dictionary" 26th Ed. W.B. Saunders 1994
2. "The origin of Medical Terms" Skinner, AH, 1970
3. "Tratado de Anatomia Humana" Testut et Latarjet 8 Ed. 1931 Salvat Editores, Spain
Image modified from the original from Testut and Latajet, 1931

Image modified from the original from Testut and Latajet, 1931

The medical suffix [-algia] originates from the Greek [algos /algein] meaning "pain". The term is used in many medical words. Applications of this root term include:

• Arthralgia: The root term [-arthr-] means "a joint", or "an articulation".Pain in a of a joint
• Cephalalgia: The root term [-cephal] means "head". A headache
• Myalgia: The root term [-my(o)] means "muscle". Muscle pain
• Otalgia: The root term [-ot-] means "ear". An earache
• Neuralgia: The root term [-neur-] means "nerve". Pain of nerve origin
• Prosopalgia: From the Greek [pros?pon]shaping of a joint

The ileum is an intraperitoneal organ, it is the third portion of the small intestine and part of the digestive tract, found distal to the duodenum and jejunum. The ileum is about 6-8 feet in lenght.

There is no clear anatomical boundary between the jejunum and ileum, as they blend smoothly one into the other. There are several gross changes from jejunum to ileum, one of them being that the complexity of the mesenteric arterial arches increases from proximal to distal.

The term [ileum] has a Greek origin from [ειλεός] meanings "twisted", referring to the "twisted" look of this third portion of the small intestine. When the term was first used Galen did not separate or differentiate jejunum from ileum. He called  both the [intestinum tenuis] or "thin or delicate intestine". This term is still used for the smaller arterial and venous branches of the small intestine, the [vasa intestinii tenuis].

It seems that the term "ileum" or "ileus" was originally used to denote the distal portion of the intestine that got sick or "colicky", separating it from the jejunum wich was usually found empty or devoid of food.

The terminal ileum ends at the ileocolic or ileocecal valve, where the small intestine empties its contents into the large intestine or colon.