Article
ID: CBB426067657

What Is in a Word? Neuron: Early Usage and Evolution in Antiquity to Its Long-Lasting Current Significance (2017)

unapi
Neurosciences Neuroanatomy Terminology and nomenclature

Neuron, a Greek term with a rustic background, made much of its way to its current significance since antiquity, when full recognition was achieved that sensory and motor signals travel through the animal body along nerves (neura, plural). Drawing from classic and recent historical scholarship, this study identifies the successive steps toward such a major breakthrough, starting from the usage of the expression in archaic times and continuing up to the much later transference of a mature theory into the modern world. It is shown that four main consecutive stages may be distinguished in the process: (a) incorporation of the word into early anatomical terminology; (b) theorizing on material composition, origin, properties, and role of the neura in animal bodies; (c) functional association of the neura with a transmitting vehicle; (d) identification of true anatomical and physiological correspondences. Upon this over 2000-year-old foundation is still being built one of the most relevant and fascinating scientific adventures of all time.

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Authors & Contributors
Šimon, František
Aicardi, Christine
Barbara, Jean-Gaël
De Leo, A.
Droz Mendelzweig, Marion
Eling, Paul
Journals
Journal of the History of the Neurosciences
Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part C: Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences
History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences
History of the Human Sciences
Revue d'Histoire des Sciences
Medicina Historica
Publishers
Librairie Philosophique J. Vrin
MIT Press
Springer
Concepts
Neuroanatomy
Neurosciences
Brain
Terminology and nomenclature
Brain localization
Controversies and disputes
People
Broca, Paul
Chomsky, Noam
Crick, Francis
Horsley, Victor, Sir
Ramón y Cajal, Santiago
Sereni, Enrico
Time Periods
19th century
20th century
20th century, late
20th century, early
21st century
17th century
Places
Great Britain
California (U.S.)
Greece
Naples (Italy)
Amsterdam (Netherlands)
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