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Haemorrhoids: Anatomy, Pathophysiology and Presentation

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Abstract

The word haemorrhoid is derived from the Greek word haem (blood) and rhoos (flow). The term piles is derived from Latin pila, meaning swelling or ball.

Historical references to haemorrhoids exist as early as the Babylonian and Egyptian eras. Haemorrhoids have long since troubled mankind and have even been known to change the course of history. It is rumoured that Napoleon’s haemorrhoids prevented him from mounting his horse before the battle of Waterloo.

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Correspondence to Emin Carapeti BSc, MBBS, MD, FRCS (Gen) .

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag London

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Noorani, A., Carapeti, E. (2014). Haemorrhoids: Anatomy, Pathophysiology and Presentation. In: Cohen, R., Windsor, A. (eds) Anus. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-091-3_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-091-3_13

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