Epatiche

Epatiche is the feminine plural form of the Italian adjective epatico, meaning hepatic or liver-related. In Italian medical and anatomical writing, epatico and its feminine forms epatica and epatiche describe structures, conditions, or processes associated with the liver. Examples include lesioni epatiche (liver lesions) and malattie epatiche (liver diseases).

Origin and form: The root epat- derives from the Latin hepaticus, itself from the Greek hepar meaning liver. Italian adjectives in this family follow regular gender and number agreement: epatico (masc. sing.), epatica (fem. sing.), epatici (masc. plural), epatiche (fem. plural).

Usage and translation: Epatiche is not used in English. When translating Italian texts, epatico/epatica/epatiche are rendered as hepatic or liver-related; in English medical writing the preferred term is hepatic. The term reflects the same root as other languages that use hepat-, such as hepatitis or hepatology.

See also: Hepatic, Hepatology, Italian medical terminology.