Gastroduodenal

/ˌɡæstroʊduːoʊˈdinəl/ adjective

Definition

Relating to or involving both the stomach and the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine).

Etymology

From Greek 'gastro-' meaning stomach, combined with 'duodenal' from Latin 'duodenum,' itself from 'duodecim' meaning twelve—named because it's about twelve finger-widths long.

Kelly Says

The duodenum got its weird name because medieval doctors literally measured it in finger-widths! The 'twelve' number tells us exactly how long they thought it should be—a funny way of naming anatomy that stuck for over 1,000 years.

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