Patterns of Evolution of the Conceptual Apparatus of Histology and Cytology (17th – 21st Centuries)

ABSTRACT

The development of the conceptual apparatus of morphological sciences began to be carried out on a scientific basis starting from the 18th century. To designate many histological structures, they began to use terms already used to designate other (non-histological) structures (tissue, cell, fiber, membrane, plexus, node, membrane, nucleus, colloid, etc.), as well as terms based on a combination of known terms with clarifying additions. At the same time, many new terms were created (centrosome, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, etc.). Many histological and cytological eponyms arose. For many terms, the authorship is unknown or debatable.

The modern conceptual apparatus of histology was mainly formed by the middle of the 20th century and was officially formed in the second half of the 20th century. The result of the evolution of the system of histological terminology was the creation of the International Histological Nomenclature (later renamed the International Histological Terminology), in which eponyms were practically absent. Following the creation of this terminology, national histological terminologies were created in a number of countries on its basis, which are periodically revised and supplemented. At present, histology is one of the most systematically organized scientific and educational disciplines.