The Cartoon Book Of Medical Word Origins

These cartoons illustrate the etymology of medical terms, especially the names for parts of the human body such as muscle. The word muscle originally meant "little mouse". Supposedly, the ancients thought that contracting muscles looked like little mice running under the skin. What does the little bump on the ear called the "tragus", which means "goat", have to do with goats?

Dr. Poritsky grew up in Schenectady, New York and is a graduate of Dartmouth College. A Veteran of the Korean War, Dr. Poritsky attained his PhD from Case Western Reserve. He is now retired and resides in Massachusetts with his wife