Why is Right Hypochondric named as such?

-- sarika simone nicholson (sherika_70510@yahoo.com), January 30, 2003

Answers

I don't know exactly where the right hypochondric region is, and I can't find a specific reference for it. However, I note that according to the OED "chondric" has to do with cartilage (from the Greek "chondros" meaning "gristle"). I assume that "hypochondric" means "below the cartilage." How that ultimately turned into our modern psychological term, "hypochondriac" (note the addition "a" near the end), I do not know.

-- Christopher Green (christo@yorku.ca), January 31, 2003.