Discussion Forum (Archived)
Guest
A number of years ago when I began practicing medicine in West Virginia, I ran into an anatomical term that I had never heard elsewhere.
When a patient would present with a muscle or tendon problem, they would refer to having "pulled a leader". This was particularly common in reference to the neck.
I have searched for a reference to this for some time and finally found a brief mention in the Merriam Webster online site which offers "tendon or sinew". I'm guessing that the etymology has something to do with the fact that a tendon "leads" from the muscle to attach to a bone. I have also wondered (this being a fairly rural community) whether this might be a term from veterinary medicine, but have found no support for this.
Any clues?
Interesting!
"Leader" is used in a glossary of medical terms as part of the definition of tendon, see here. (Doesn't help with the etymology of this usage of leader, unfortunately.)
You would know better than I if this link is relevant. (Is this is the same usage of "leader"?) And this one is even more technical.
Got it! (I think.)
The Student's Medical Dictionary (1896).
The earliest reference I found on Google Books was in Medical Lexicon: A Dictionary of Medical Science (1860).
Martha Barnette
Grant Barrett
Grant Barrett
1 Guest(s)