Neuron Parvum Fluorescens, a Term with Anglo-Greco-Latin Influence. A Proposal to Terminologia Neuroanatomica and Terminologia Histologica

Terminologies are used as a linguistic tool to convey knowledge in a precise and unambiguous manner in science. The guidelines of the Federative International Programme for Anatomical Terminology (FIPAT) state that the names given to structures should be both descriptive and informative. This study analyses the linguistic roots of the term Neuron parvum valde fluorescens in Terminologia Histologica and the term Neuron parvum fluorescens in Terminologia Neuroanatomica. Small intensely fluorescent cells are neurons found in the autonomic nervous system, distributed in the sympathetic ganglia, they have afferent synapses with preganglionic sympathetic nerve terminals and efferent synapses with the dendrites of postganglionic neurons, whose function is to regulate ganglionic transmission, acting as interneurons with paracrine and endocrine signalling. They are also characterized as fluorescent cells, producing the catecholamines: serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine. A search was carried out in Terminologia Histologica and Terminologia Neuroanatomica, with a translation of the terms into Spanish. This was complemented by a search in an English etymological dictionary for the corresponding terms. This research found a difference between the Latin to English translation of the term fluorescens, which has a very different etymological origin to its English meaning. The term Neuron parvum valde fluorescens in Terminologia Histologica and the term Neuron parvum fluorescens in Terminologia Neuroanatomica identify the same structure. The proposal is to replace both terms with Cateconeuron ganglionare, thus affording an accurate description of this type of neuron, considering its location and function. Moreover, it would also be a concordant term in Latin for its incorporation into the Terminologia Neuroanatomica and Terminologia Histologica.