sciatic nerve was first known as the femoral nerve (neruus femoris)

The etymology of anatomical terminology provides insight into the history anatomy, medicine, and scientific understanding. Therefore, this study assessed language 7th century Codex Amiatinus, earliest surviving most reliable copy Saint Jerome’s original 4th Latin Vulgate translation Bible, for details regarding injury Jacob as described in Book Genesis 32:22-32. Amiatinus notes that sustained an to “neruus femoris.” Additional context, given by Jewish dietary practice, suggests neruus femoris likely refers modern-day sciatic nerve (nervus ischiadicus). However, conceivably, may refer any motor vicinity thigh including either femoral nerve, tibial common fibular or obturator nerve. By utilizing term femoris, “nerve thigh,” evidence ancient knowledge human neuroanatomy understanding sequelae result from peripheral injury.