Inclusive Anatomy
History
Historical Timeline
1800
1867
Joseph Lister
Joseph Lister's introduction of antiseptic surgical techniques established his prominence in medical history, and the dorsal radial tubercle later came to bear his name as the honorific eponym "Lister’s tubercle," despite no original anatomical description by Lister himself.[1,2]
1988
Stahl & Wolff
Stahl and Wolff reported clinical cases demonstrating that fractures involving the dorsal radial tubercle may lead to delayed rupture of the extensor pollicis longus tendon, highlighting the functional importance of the structure in wrist biomechanics.[3]
2017
Chan & Chong
Chan and Chong described morphological variants of Lister's tubercle using magnetic resonance imaging, providing a modern anatomical classification and reinforcing its significance as a surgical landmark.[4]
Present
Eponym History
The dorsal tubercle of the radius is commonly referred to as Lister’s tubercle, an eponym attributed to Joseph Lister (1827–1912), the British surgeon and pioneer of antiseptic surgery.[1]
Joseph Lister was born in England and received his Bachelor of Medicine with honors in 1852 from University College London.[5] He later worked as a surgical assistant at the University of Edinburgh between 1853 and 1860, where he assisted senior surgeons, maintained detailed operative notes, and performed limited surgical procedures.[5]
Despite the widespread use of the eponym, there is no historical evidence that Lister formally described the dorsal tubercle of the radius. The attribution appears to be honorific rather than based on his direct anatomical work on this structure.[2]
Joseph Lister — Image obtained from Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)
Scientific Contributions
Joseph Lister made foundational contributions to surgery, pathology, and preventive medicine. He is best known for introducing antiseptic techniques into surgical practice, dramatically reducing postoperative infection and mortality.[1]
Lister also published extensively on inflammation, coagulation, muscle physiology, antiseptics, and the nervous system.[2] His work transformed surgery into a safer, scientifically grounded discipline and remains influential in modern medical practice.[1]
References
Cartwright FF. Joseph Lister. Britannica. August 24, 2026.
Alberti S. Saints and Sinners: Joseph Lister. The Bulletin of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. 2012;94(3):90-91.
Stahl S, Wolff TW. Delayed rupture of the extensor pollicis longus tendon after nonunion of a fracture of the dorsal radial tubercle. Journal of Hand Surgery. 1988;13(3):338-341.
Chan WY, Chong LR. Anatomical Variants of Lister’s Tubercle: A New Morphological Classification Based on Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Korean Journal of Radiology. 2017;18(6):957-963.
Godlee RJS. Lord Lister. 3rd ed. Oxford: Clarendon Press; 1924.