GREEK DECLENSIONS IN MEDICAL

TERMINOLOGYGM 12

• Introductory information.

• Greek paradigms in the 3rd declension.

• Greek paradigms in the 1st and 2nd declension.

• Examples of use.

Content

Greek influence in Latin medical terminology

• Since its beginnings the medical terminology was greatly influenced by Greek for several reasons:

• Greek was in ancient Rome language of intellectuals;

• many physicians were Greeks;

• principal authorities of ancient medicine were Hippocrates and Galenos of Pergamon - both of Greek origin.

The physicians were able to use both languages:

Andreas Laurentius, Opera anatomica in quinque libros divisa ..., Lugduni 1593, p. 372.

Introduction• As result of this long-term coexistence there are

generally three types of Greek words in medical terminology:

• Words of Greek origin that adopted completely Latin paradigms (iris, trachea, trochanter, ...).

• Words which preserved partially original Greek grammar and have therefore exceptions in paradigms (diabetes, basis, systole, ...).

• Words assimilated in form of Greek stems. Technically they have no paradigms of own. Such stem is always followed by a Latin suffix.

Group 1 Greek words following

the Latin paradigms

Group 1

• Those words do not differ from ordinary Latin paradigms.

• They are part of your vocabulary since the beginning of the course.

• There is chapter “Greek declensions” that extends your vocabulary using this group of terms. See p. 136 - 139 of the textbook.

Group 1• Three paradigms on the page 138 (masseter,

trauma, iris) belong to this group. They have ordinary endings according the 3rd declension imparisyllabics (dolor, caput).

• Beware: the paradigm basis (p. 138) has a set of different endings.

• For our purpose it is sufficient to memorise vocabulary (starting from masseter up to ending -itis on p. 139) as an additional set of nouns belonging to 3rd declension.

• Vocabulary that belongs to masseter, trauma, iris is in file vocabulary.pdf mixed with other imparisyllabics from the 3rd declension.

Group 2Words which partially

preserve Greek endings

Group 2

• Terms in this group use both Latin and Greek endings. Therefore they have a paradigm of their own, based on Latin with several exceptions.

• They can be divided into two groups:

• 3rd declension paradigm basis (including small group of archaic Latin nouns with similar endings).

• 1st declension paradigms systole and diabetes.

Paradigm basis

• Type basis is a derivation of parisyllabic 3rd declension.

• A hallmark of words belonging to type basis is Nom. Sg. and Gen. Sg. ending ...sis, -sis. (Example: diagnosis, -is; hepatoptosis, -is; dosis, -is).

• They are all feminines.

• For vocabulary see p. 140 in the textbook.

Paradigm basis

Sg. Pl.

Nom. bas- is bas- es

Gen. bas- is bas- ium

Acc. bas- im bas- es

Abl. bas- i bas- ibus

Red-marked cases are different from an ordinary 3rd declension stuff.

Paradigm systole

• Type systole is a derivation of nouns from the 1st declension.

• The paradigm applies to a small group of feminines.

• Only singular has different endings. Plural cases have ordinary suffixes according vena.

• Some of these words can have both ordinary vena-like endings or Greek systole-type in singular. Others must follow systole.

• The vocabulary on the pages 156-157 is a bit confusing, hence for required set of words see file vocabulary.pdf.

Paradigm systole

Sg. Pl. (follows vena)

Nom. systol- e systol- ae

Gen. systol- es systol- arum

Acc. systol- en systol- as

Abl. systol- e systol- is

Paradigm diabetes

• Master very small group of masculines according to the 1st declension. In the vocabulary that is required during this course only words diabetes and ascites follow this pattern.

• Plural is a copy of vena.

• Beware: those are masculines.

• For grammar see p. 155, vocabulary p. 157.

Paradigm diabetes

Sg. Pl. (follows vena)

Nom. diabet- es diabet- ae

Gen. diabet- ae diabet- arum

Acc. diabet- en diabet- as

Abl. diabet- e diabet- is

Group 3Words preserved in form

of Greek stems

Greek stems

• This subject was explained in the previous lesson concerning “Clinical terminology”.

Examplesbasis simplex

basis simplexbasis simplicisbasim simplicembasi simplici

⎯bases simplicesbasium simpliciumbases simplicesbasibus simplicibus

prognosis dubiosa

prognosis dubiosaprognosis dubiosaeprognosim dubiosamprognosi dubiosa

⎯prognoses dubiosaeprognosium dubiosarumprognoses dubiosasprognosibus dubiosis

acne chronica

acne chronicaacnes chronicaeacnen chronicamacne chronica

⎯acnae chronicaeacnarum chronicarumacnas chronicasacnis chronicis

dyspnoe imminens

dyspnoe imminensdyspnoes imminentisdyspnoen imminentemdyspnoe imminenti

⎯dyspnoae imminentesdyspnoarum imminentiumdyspnoas imminentesdyspnois imminentibus

diabetes mellitus

diabetes mellitusdiabetae mellitidiabeten mellitumdiabete mellito

⎯diabetae mellitidiabetarum mellitorumdiabetas mellitosdiabetis mellitis

Explanation:•Basis simplex is combination of type basis and adjective from 3rd declension.•Prognosis dubiosa: type basis + adj. from 1st and 2nd decl.•Acne chronica: Greek type acne and adj. from 1st and 2nd decl.•Dyspnoe imminens: Greek type acne and adj. from 3rd decl.•Diabetes mellitus: Greek type diabetes and adj. from 1st and 2nd decl.