Persistence of eponyms in Terminologia Histologica.

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Ignacio Roa; Bélgica Vásquez & Manuel Contreras

Summary

Eponyms are still frequently used among clinicians and scholars to refer to the various structures in histology. Despite efforts by the morphological community to eradicate eponyms from medical language, nowadays they are practical, and even present in Terminologia Histologica (TH), such as in the case of Schannocytus (H2.00.06.2.02003) concerning the term Schwann cell; Complexus golgiensis (H1.00.01.3.0146) relating to the Golgi apparatus, Cellula panethensis (H3.04.03.0.00017) concerning the Paneth cell and Neuron purkinjense (H3.11.03.4.01015), the term Purkinje neuron which refers to researchers Theodor Schwann, Camillo Golgi, Joseph Paneth and Jan Evangelist Purkinje, respectively. The aim of this study was to conduct an analysis of these terms from a linguistic point of view and propose new Latin names, following guidelines established in the terminology wherein the names of structures must, have an informative value, be written in Latin as a base language, and eliminate the use of eponyms. The terms analyzed, refer to cells or organelles names frequently used, they have limited descriptive value, many with purely Greek roots and other neologisms, which names have endured over time in honor of renowned researchers. Using terms from Latin, we propose modifications with respect to classification and derivatives. In conclusion, we hope that with this introduction, the information to consolidate standards will be considered by the experts of the Federal International Committee on Anatomical Terminology and further, initiate a dialogue with International Federation of Associations of Anatomists members, while encouraging ongoing communication between the various players of morphological sciences.

KEY WORDS: Schannocytus; Schwann cell; Complexus golgiensis; Golgi apparatus; Cellula panethensis; Paneth cell; Neuron purkinjense; Purkinje neuron; Terminologia Histologica; Eponyms.

How to cite this article

ROA, I.; VÁSQUEZ, B. & CONTRERAS, M. Persistence of eponyms in Terminologia Histologica. Int. J. Morphol., 34(4):1245- 1252, 2016.