Achilles tendon: the 305th anniversary of the French priority on the introduction of the famous anatomical eponym

• Published in: Surgical and radiologic anatomy (English ed.) Vol. 33; no. 5; pp. 421 - 427
• Main Authors: Musil, V., Stingl, J., Bacova, T., Baca, V., Kachlik, D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Springer-Verlag 01.07.2011; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Achilles Tendon - anatomy & histology; Anatomy; Anatomy - history; Biological and medical sciences; Eponyms; France; General aspects; Germany; Heister; History of medicine; History, 15th Century; History, 16th Century; History, 17th Century; History, 18th Century; History, Ancient; History, Medieval; Humans; Imaging; Jargon; Jean Louis Petit; Legs; Lorenz Heister; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mythology; Original Article; Orthopedics; Petit; Philip Verheyen; Radiology; Surgery; Tendons; Terminology as Topic; Verheyen; France; Europe; Germany; Achilles tendon; Eponym; Anatomy; History; French priority in introduction; Tendo calcaneus; Priority; Anniversary; Case history; Medicine; French; Treatment; Surgery
• ISSN: 0930-1038; 1279-8517
• DOI: 10.1007/s00276-010-0740-3

This article presents a detailed chronology regarding the development of terminology relating to the calcaneal tendon, from ancient times to modern day nomenclature. The notable contributions of Flemish anatomist Philip Verheyen, French surgeon Jean-Louis Petit, German anatomist and surgeon Lorenz Heister, along with the actual origin of the famous anatomical eponym “Achilles tendon” are analysed. During the study of the aforementioned authors, it was revealed that the term was first adopted, in its original French form, by J.-L. Petit in 1705 and later in 1717, in its Latin form, by L. Heister.