Greek and Latin in medical terminology

Katarzyna Jóskowska; Zenon Grabarczyk

Vol 1, No 2 (2013)

Review article

Published online: 2013-12-27

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Greek and Latin in medical terminology

Katarzyna Jóskowska, Zenon Grabarczyk

Folia Medica Copernicana 2013;1(2):41-52.

Vol 1, No 2 (2013)

REVIEW ARTICLES

Published online: 2013-12-27

Abstract

This paper offers an overview of the status quo of medical terminology. Most terms used in biology and medicine are derived from classical languages, i.e. Latin and Greek. In previous years, Latin was listed as a subject offered in the syllabus of medical studies. Now, things have altered. It is obvious however, that a basic understanding of Latin and Greek etymology increases the productivity of learning and comfort while using medical terminology. A knowledge of the meaning of the roots, prefixes, and suffixes enables the student to thoroughly analyse a given medical term in terms of its component parts. This is probabl ythe greatest aid in learning to understand the vocabulary of medicine. The main part of this study consists of tables containing the most common morphemes together with numerous examples.