[What is the "Ductus Botallo"? It is an error].

The aim of this publication is to call the attention of the Hungarian medical society to the incorrect name "ductus Botalli" of ductus arteriosus connecting pulmonary artery and aorta. This patent vascular connection has an important role in the fetal circulation, but after birth it becomes unnecessary and blocked. In the 16th century Leonardo Botallo the Italian physician and military surgeon described and named after himself an anatomical structure foramen ovale. The unfortunate mistake happened in a later edition of his work. The translation of this edition into German may have contributed to the error, as the name "ductus Botalli" was spread in the countries under German influence (Scandinavia, Hungary), but not in the English and Spanish medical language. Considering that the naming "ductus Botalli" is used by mistake it is most desirable to ignore it in the Hungarian medical language, as well--as it has already happened in German and Scandinavian medical publications.