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2 years ago in Linguistics , Medical History By Tom

Are there studies comparing modern and pre-modern anatomical terminology?

I'm compiling a glossary for a critical edition of a 16th-century surgical manual. I need precise, academic references that don’t just note changes in theory, but provide direct comparisons of terminology. For instance, what was the medieval Latin or vernacular term for the 'patella,' and when did the modern term become standardized? Are there dedicated lexicons or studies for this?

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By Krupa Answered 1 year ago

For your editorial work, I would recommend seeking out specialized historical lexicons rather than broad histories. Look for works like "The Anatomical Terms of the Middle Ages" or critical editions of texts by Mundinus or Vesalius that include detailed glossaries. These often provide the Arabic-Latin-Vernacular-Modern English chains. I've used the Index of Medieval Medical Terms for this. Also, explore studies on the Nomina Anatomica standardization efforts in the late 19th/early 20th centuries they finalized the divorce from eponymous and descriptive terms to the systematic Latin you use today.

 

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