MEDYMOLOGY
ARBOR VITAE FOR HEALTH SCIENCES
Orthopaedics
Etymology:
Gr. orthós: "straight, upright, erect" + Gr. paideía: “upbringing, training; rearing of children”, the term was coined by French physician Nicholas Andry (1658-1742) as the specialty was initially focused on the correction of musculoskeletal disease in children.
Dr. William S. Haubrich eloquently adds, "Now, by spelling this term with 'ae' rather than with just 'e,' a bag of worms has burst. Some people might look upon "orthopaedics" as archaic pedantry, but it is not. To spell it "orthopedics" would relate the term to the Latin pes, pedis, 'foot.' This is incorrect on two accounts: (a) the practice was never intended to be restricted to 'foot straightening'; and (b) to link the Greek ortho- and the Latin pedis would create a mongrel word."
Definition:
The branch of medicine that deals with the prevention or correction of disorders of the bones (when considering long bones, often working to restore them to their straight orientation) and associated muscles and joints.