Spherulosis
/ˌsfɛr.jəˈloʊ.sɪs/noun
A pathological condition characterized by the formation or presence of small spherical bodies, especially in breast tissue.
Did you know?The word combines a Latin-derived term for a tiny sphere with the Greek medical suffix -osis, meaning a condition or pathological process.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sphēr-
“A reconstructed root associated with the idea of a ball or spherical form”
Ancient Greek
Greek
σφαῖρα (sphaîra)
“Ball, globe, or sphere”
Ancient Latin
Latin
sphaera
“Sphere, globe, or celestial orb”
17th Century
Modern Latin
sphaerula
“A little sphere; a diminutive of sphaera”
19th Century
Medical English
spherule
“A small spherical body or structure”
20th Century
Medical English
spherulosis
“A condition involving the formation or presence of spherules”
Explore more surprising origins