Words to the wise
BMJ 1997; 315 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.315.7121.0l (Published 06 December 1997) Cite this as: BMJ 1997;315:l- Grant Hutchison, consultant anaesthetist
- Dundee
Cerebral gyri and nasal turbinates do not, at first, appear to have much in common, but both derive their names from turning words.
The scroll shaped edge of a turbinate bone recalls the spiral structure of a turbinate seashell, which in turn resembles a Roman spinning top, turbo. This word was also used for a whirlwind, explaining the connection to turbine. The rotary chaos of the whirlwind also explains the Latin turba, a disorderly crowd, which gives us turbulent and turbid, as well as perturb and disturb.
The cerebral gyri are named for their curved shape: gyrus is Latin for …
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