The objective of the present work was to describe the poorly known history of the development of the nomenclature of glomus tumours (chemodectomas) of the base of the skull, elucidate etiology and pathogenesis of these neoplasms. The authors present a chronological table illustrating the progress of etiological and pathogenetic studies as well as the surgical treatment of the tumours. The results of analysis and discussion of the controversial issues of the nomenclature are reported.