spica1
/ˈspʌɪkə
/noun Medicine
A bandage folded into a spiral arrangement resembling an ear of wheat or barley.Current treatment for this type of fracture is a thumb spica, but some evidence suggests that the thumb could be omitted from the cast....
- As a basic rule, in a patient with a clinically suspected scaphoid fracture but negative initial radiographs, it is reasonable to apply a short arm thumb spica and re-evaluate the patient in two weeks.
Origin
Late 17th century: from Latin, literally 'spike, ear of corn'; related to spina 'spine'. The current sense is influenced by Greek stakhus 'ear of wheat'.
Spica2
/ˈspiːkə/Astronomy
The brightest star in the constellation Virgo.
Origin
Latin, literally 'ear of wheat (in the hand of the goddess)'.