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

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Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgments

The authors of this article feel obliged to thank following colleagues and institutions for their devoted efforts, help and collegial cooperation in the arrangement of access to the original literary sources and materials: Mrs. L. Alazraki, Bibliothèque universitaire de médecine Marseille, Marseille, France; Mrs. L. Frajerova, National Library of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic; Mrs. M. Plecita, Centre of Scientific Information, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic; Mrs. M. Schwingel-Bechtold, Universitäts-Bibliothek, Frankfurt a.M., Germany; Prof. Dr.med. Reinhard Putz, Department of Anatomy, Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität, Munich, Germany; Prof. J. Bartonicek, M.D., D.Sc., Department of Surgery, Teaching Hospital of the First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre of Scientific Information, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Ruska 87, 100 00, Prague 10, Czech Republic

    V. Musil

  2. Department of Anatomy, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Ruska 87, 100 00, Prague 10, Czech Republic

    J. Stingl, T. Bacova, V. Baca & D. Kachlik

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  1. V. Musil
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  2. J. Stingl
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  3. T. Bacova
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  4. V. Baca
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Correspondence to V. Musil.

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Musil, V., Stingl, J., Bacova, T. et al. Achilles tendon: the 305th anniversary of the French priority on the introduction of the famous anatomical eponym. Surg Radiol Anat 33, 421–427 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-010-0740-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-010-0740-3

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