'arthrology' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'arthron' and the combining form 'logia', where 'arthr-' meant 'joint' and '-logia' meant 'study' or 'discourse'.

'arthrology' passed into New Latin as 'arthrologia' (formed from Greek elements) and eventually became the modern English word 'arthrology'.

Initially, it meant 'the study of joints' in the literal sense, and over time it has retained that specialized medical and anatomical meaning.