Ramoutsaki Ioanna A, Bizakis John G, Ramoutsakis John A, Bizakis Argyro J, Helidonis Emmanuel S
Department of Otolaryngology, Medical School of Crete, University of Crete, Heraklion-Crete, Greece.
Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004 Nov;131(5):765-6. doi: 10.1016/j.otohns.2004.04.016.
The variety and the confusion over the name of many medical terms, including otorhinolaryngological ones prompted us to search their etymology. The term "otorhinolaryngology" (combined form from the ancient Greek words :ous, rhina, larynx, and logos) and the term indicating the specialized doctor who practices "0torhinolaryngology," widely known as ENT in a brief version, are being examined. The investigation leads us to see which of these terms is the appropriate and etymologically correct one, and to support clearly the term "otorhinolaryngology" instead of "otolaryngology" and "otorhinolaryngologist" instead of "ENT."
