Cesarean sections have been a part of human culture since ancient times. This surgery, which is characterized by the delivery of a baby through the mother’s abdomen, is referenced in ancient Hindu, Egyptian, Grecian, Roman and other European folklore. But where did the term originate?
One popular theory is that the term cesarean was derived from the surgical birth of the Roman leader Julius Caesar. Though the exact origins of this theory remain unknown, scholars say the term probably wasn't named for the famous ruler himself.