Tuesday, August 27, 2013

WILTIMS #22: Quickie

Twas a long day with way too much information, but as it's already late, I'll just leave you with a couple quick items and fill you in more tomorrow.

TIL: The term hypochondriac actually quite literally means "pertaining to the upper third of the abdomen." This is from the greek roots of hypo- (under) and chondro- (cartilage) referring to the cartilaginous lower rib cage. The word has come to mean an excessive worry about one's health because physicians of antiquity attributed many ailments to that region of the abdomen. Over time hypochondria became a catch-all term to describe any unexplained conditions, and later to describe people with illnesses that no one can find evidence of.

The rectum actually drains blood via two totally separate venous blood tracts. This becomes important in regard to colorectal cancer, because if the tumor drains blood into the vena cava, metastases will show up in the lungs. If, however, the tumor drains to the portal vein, the metastases will primarily collect in the liver and only secondarily make it to the pulmonary capillaries.

The spot on the skin where one makes the incision for an appendectomy is called McBurney's point.

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