1. GREEK-LATIN CLINICAL TERMS GM 11

2. Introductory information. Prefixes. Stems and suffixes. Content

3. Introductory information Latin Medical Terminology (LMT) is based on two languages: Latin and Greek. Latin provides the LMT with vocabulary (above all anatomical one) and extensive grammar (declensions etc.). Greek offers a bit of grammar and an extensive set of Greek prefixes, stems, and suffixes.

4. Introductory information 2 The fundamental difference between the Latin and Greek lies in the way how they connect words together. Latin prefers linking single independent words using grammatical features like Gen. case and adjectival modifier/attribute. Greek on the other hand has a great ability to merge words together to create complex one-word expressions.

5. Compare: LatinGreek tumor musculi inflammatio venarum dolor capitis inflammatio renum excisio uteri myoma phlebitis cephalalgia nephritis hysterectomia

6. Greek expressions have following advantages: They are usually shorter. They could consist of several parts (i.e. cheilognatopalatoschisis ). This allows us to describe a particular pathology or situation very precisely. They use usually very simple grammar. Endings of Greek expressions are latinized and adopt form of the 1 st, 2 nd and sometime also basis paradigm (3 rd decl. of Greek origin).

7. Composite Greek medical terms consist of three main parts: Prefix (not necessary). Stem (there could be several stems linked together). Ending (ending could be of Greek origin, but it always adopts a Latin grammatical form). Structure of Greek clinical terms

8. Demonstration l e u c o e n c e p h a l o p a t h i a whiteunspecified disease headin(side) brain unspecified disease of white brain substance

9. Prefixes Greek prefixes are in the textbook on pages 159 - 160. The list contains also Latin synonyms and examples. Pay attention to Greek/Latin pairs with the same meaning (example: in -/ endo -, extra -/ exo -, hyper - / supra -).

10. Stems and endings Greek stems are in the textbook scattered across several chapters. For a concise list see the file vocabulary.pdf available through the website. A selection of endings is also provided in the textbook and the file vocabulary.pdf.