论髁的释义及演变

Denotation of “ke” and changes of its meaning

髁在现代医学词汇和中医古籍词汇中都是比较常用又多见误释的词。运用梳理古籍、考察实物、系联同源词等方法,得出结论:髁本义指髂骨上与骶骨相连、向后的两处近似于圆形的突起;引申指膝骨;又引申指骨端的椭圆形膨大,对译英文的condyle、拉丁文的condylus;通踝,指踝骨。辞书中髁的股骨、尾骨、髋骨等义项是误释。

＂Ke（ 髁） ＂is a commonly used but also often misunderstood word in modern biomedicine and traditional Chinese medicine. The author tried to clarify its meaning by analyzing texts of ancient Chinese classics,investigating objects,connecting cognates. The original meaning of ＂ke ＂ refers to the two circular iliac prominence attached to the sacrum. Its extended meaning is kneecap or the oval enlargement at the bone end,corresponding to condyle in English and condylus in Latin. ＂Ke＂is also used sometimes to refer to ＂huai（ 踝） ＂（ ankle bone）. However,meanings of ＂ke＂as femur,coccyx and hip bone in some dictionaries are all misinterpretation.