The root term [-clast] arises from the Greek [κλαστός / klastes] meaning "to break". The root term [-clast-] is used in medical terminology to mean "to destroy", or 'to break down". Variations of this term are the suffix [-(o)clasis] and the suffix [-(o)clasia].

A vernacular example of its use is in the word [iconoclast], meaning "to break down icons, images, or idols. Another great example comes from vulcanology (study of volcanoes). The word [pyroclastic] includes the prefix [pyro-] meaning "fire". It refers to a wall of hot gases and ashes spewed from a volcano moving up 450 miles per hour destroying and igniting everything in its path.

Examples of its use in medical terminology are:

• Osteoclast: The root term [-oste-] means "bone". A destroyer of bone
• Osteoclastocyte: The suffix [-(o)cyte-] means "cell". A better way to denote a cell that destroys or breaks down bone
• Osteoclasis: The action of osteoclastocytes

The root term [-blast] arises from the Greek [blastos] meaning "a germ", "seed" or "a sprout". The equivalent term in Latin is [germen], as in "germination". The root term [-blast-] is used in medical terminology to mean "germinative" and "to build". Because of the connotation of "seed" the term is widely used in embryology. Examples of its use are:

• Osteoblast: The root term [-oste-] means "bone". A bone germinative cell
• Odontoblast: The root term [-odont-] means "tooth". A tooth germinative cell
• Fibroblast: The root term [-fibr-] is used to mean "fiber", referring in this case to collagen and connective tissue. A cell that buils tissue with collagen fibers
• Fibroblastocyte: The suffix [-(o)cyte-] means "cell". A better way to denote a cell that buils tissue with collagen fibers

The posterior cerebral artery is a bilateral artery with a common origin from the basilar artery at the level of the mesencephalon (midbrain). The basilar artery itself is formed by the junction of both vertebral arteries.

After the common origin of  both posterior cerebral arteries, the posterior communicating arteries arise, forming the posterior aspect of the arterial circle of Willis. The posterior cerebral arteries provide blood supply to the medial aspect of the occipital lobe of the brain, as well the inferior and medial aspect of the temporal lobe. It also provides deep arteries to the thalamus and hypothalamus

For information on the anatomical variations of the posterior cerebral artery click here.

The suffix [-(o)ptosis] arises from the Greek [πτώσηι?] meaning "to fall", "to sag" or "go down". This suffix is used in medical words such as:

• Nephroptosis: The root term [-nephr-] means "kidney". A falling or drooping of a kidney
• Blepharoptosis: The root term [-blephr-] means "eyelid". A falling or drooping of an eyelid
• Hysteroptosis: The root term [-hyster-] is used to mean "uterus". A falling, drooping, or prolapse of the uterus
• Gastroptosis: The root term [-gastr-] means "stomach". A drooping or sagging of the stomach

Henry Gray F.R.S. (1827 – 1861). English anatomist, Henry Gray was born in 1827. Not much is known of his early studies. What is known is that on May 6, 1845 Gray was studying as a pupil at St. George’s Hospital in London. At 21 years of age Gray won an award for an anatomical paper on human and comparative anatomy of the eye and its appendages.

In 1850 Henry Gray was appointed as house surgeon to the St. George’s Hospital, and in 1852 he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society. He wrote several anatomical papers and in 1852 became a lecturer on Anatomy at the same hospital.

At this time he started work on what would become his legacy to the world. A systematic analysis and treatise on human anatomy that was originally published in 1858, entitled “Anatomy, Descriptive, and Surgical” which was profusely illustrated by Henry Vandyke Carter, M.D.

Unfortunately for the world, Henry Gray was affected by smallpox and died on June 13, 1861 shortly after he was elected as a member of the Royal College of Surgeons. Henry Gray died when he was only 34 years old.

Original imagecourtesy of NLM  

Sources:
1. “Henry Gray and Henry Vandyke Carter: Creators of a Famous Textbook" Roberts, S. J Med Biog 2000 8: 206-212
2. "Henry Gray, Anatomist: An Appreciation" Boland, F Am J Med Sci 1908 1827-1924
3. "The Anatomist: A True Story of Gray’s Anatomy" Hayes, B. Random House PG 2007

The word [pathology] is formed by two components. The root term [-path-] arises from the Greek [πάθος], meaning “suffering”. The term [πάθος], or [pathos] was first used by Galen of Pergamon (129AD - 200AD) (see accompanying image) to denote an alteration of a vital process. The suffix [-(o)logy] also has Greek origin from [logos] or [λόγος], meaning a "book", a "treatise" or "to study". Therefore [pathology] or [παθολογία] is the “study of disease or conditions”. In simpler terms the word [pathology] is also used as a synonym for "sickness", "disease", or "condition".

The root term [-path-] can be found in many medical terms such as:

• Pathology: Study of disease

• Pathophysiology: This combined root adds the root term [-phys-] meaning “function” Study of the function of disease (a disease in action)

• Pathognomonic: See definition here

• Pathogenesis: The suffix [-(o)genesis] means “creation”, or “origin”. Origin of a disease

 
Original image courtesy of Images from the History of Medicine at nih.gov