Plural of embryulculus; small hooked obstetric instruments used for fetal extraction or manipulation.
From Latin embryulculus (diminutive of embryulcus), meaning 'small embryo-extracting hook.' The -culci suffix indicates a small or secondary version.
The Latin diminutive form embryulculus is fascinatingly specific—it literally means 'little embryo-hook,' showing how medieval and Renaissance medical terminology created precise terms for every specialized instrument.
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