GREEK DECLENSIONS IN MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY GM 12 Content

GREEK DECLENSIONS IN MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY GM 12

Content • Introductory information. • Greek paradigms in the 3 rd declension. • Greek paradigms in the • Examples of use. st 1 and nd 2 declension.

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

Group 2 Words 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: • 3 rd declension paradigm basis (including small group of archaic Latin nouns with similar endings). • 1 st declension paradigms systole and diabetes.

Paradigm basis • Type basis is a derivation of parisyllabic 3 rd 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- ibus Red-marked cases are different from an ordinary 3 rd declension stuff.

Paradigm systole • Type systole is a derivation of nouns from the 1 st 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 venalike 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 1 st 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 3 Words preserved in form of Greek stems

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

basis simplex basis basim basi simplex simplicis simplicem simplici � bases simplices basium simplicium bases simplices dyspnoe basibus imminens simplicibus Examples prognosis dubiosae prognosim dubiosam prognosi dubiosa � prognoses dubiosae diabetes prognosium mellitus dubiosarum prognoses dubiosas diabetes dubiosis prognosibus mellitus dyspnoe diabetae imminens melliti dyspnoes imminentis diabeten dyspnoen imminentem mellitum dyspnoe diabete imminenti mellito � � dyspnoae imminentes diabetae dyspnoarum melliti imminentium diabetarum dyspnoas imminentes mellitorum acne chronica acnes chronicae acnen chronicam acne chronica � acnae chronicae acnarum chronicarum acnas chronicas acnis chronicis Explanation: • Basis simplex is combination of type basis and adjective from 3 rd declension. • Prognosis dubiosa: type basis + adj. from 1 st and 2 nd decl. • Acne chronica: Greek type acne and adj. from 1 st and 2 nd decl. • Dyspnoe imminens: Greek type acne and adj. from 3 rd decl. • Diabetes mellitus: Greek type diabetes and adj. from 1 st and 2 nd decl.