Cannula
/ˈkæn.jʊ.lə/noun
A small tube inserted into a body cavity, vessel, or duct.
Did you know?Cannula comes from Latin *cannula*, a diminutive of *canna* (“reed” or “cane”), because early hollow reeds were the natural model for a tube that lets liquid pass through.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kan-
“to sing; to make a hollow sound, and in a separate branch, reed/cane terms are often linked through later forms”
Latin
Latin
canna
“reed, cane, stalk”
Latin
Latin
cannula
“little reed; small tube”
Late Latin / Medieval Latin
Latin
cannula
“small tube or pipe used for conveying liquid”
16th Century
English
cannule / cannula
“a small tube inserted into the body for drainage or access”
Modern English
English
cannula
“a small flexible tube placed into the body for medical purposes”