REVISION

Dictionary forms of Latin substantives and adjectives

Substantives Adjectives
vertebra1, ae2, f3 – vertebra magnus, a, um4 – great
I declension I and II declension
musculus, i, m – muscle magnus – masculine gender (m)
II declension magna – feminine gender (f)
ligamentum, i, n – ligament magnum – neuter gender (n)
II declension

pulmo, onis, m – lung III declension, pulmonalis, ale – pulmonary

consonant type (III declension)
basis, is, f – base III declension, vocal pulmonalis – masculine gender
type pulmonalis – feminine gender
dens, dentis, m – tooth III declension, pulmonale – neuter gender
mixed type simplex, icis – simple (III declension)
simplex – masculine, feminine and
neuter gender
simplicis – Genitive form
ductus, us, m – duct IV declension No adjectives
genu, us, m – knee IV declension
facies, ei, f – face; surface No adjectives
V declension

Figure № 1: Attributive phrase (Noun + Adjective N+A)

Noun in Adjective; participle;

the first place comparative form;
numeral

Agreement in gender, number and case

Examples:
Lat. fascia lata → Engl. broad fascia

The noun “fascia” is feminine Nominative singular, the adjective “lata” is feminine
Nominative singular. The rules applied are:
 Rule 1: The noun stands before the adjective.
 Rule 2: The adjective is in the same gender, number and case like the noun.

1
The form in Nominativus sigularis (Nominative case, singular)
2
The flexion for Genititvus singularis (Genitive case, singular). This flexion denotes the declension.
3
The gender of the substantive
4
The adjective in Nominativus singularis
Lat. musculus latus → Engl. broad muscle
The noun “musculus” is masculine Nominative singular, the adjective “latus” is masculine
Nominative singular.

Lat. ligamentum latum → Engl. broad ligament

The noun “ligamentum” is neuter Nominative singular, the adjective “latum” is neuter
Nominative singular.

1. Adjectives in III declension:

 Adjective with three forms for masculine, feminine and neuter gender:

celer (m), celeris (f), celere (n) – fast

The dictionary form consists of masculine form, end of the stem + feminine and neuter
endings.

Dictionary form: celer, eris, ere – fast

 Adjectives with two forms: one form for masculine and feminine, and one form for
neuter gender:

communis (m, f), commune (n) – common

The dictionary form consists of a masculine and feminine form and a neuter ending.

Dictionary form: communis, e – common

temporalis, e – temporal

Lat. regio temporalis → Engl. temporal region

The noun “regio” is feminine Nominative singular, the adjective “temporalis” is feminine
Nominative singular.

Lat. os temporale → Engl. temporal bone

The noun “os” is neuter Nominative singular, the adjective “temporale” is neuter Nominative
singular.

 Adjectives with one form for masculine, feminine and neuter gender:

multiplex (m, f, n), multiplicis (Genitive singular) – multiple

The dictionary form consists of Nominative singular form and Genitive singular stem +
ending.
Dictionary form: multiplex, icis – multiple
biceps, ipitis – biceps, two-headed

Lat. musculus biceps → Engl. biceps muscle, two-headed muscle

The noun “musculus” is masculine Nominative singular, the adjective “biceps” is masculine
Nominative singular.

Rule: These adjectives are declined in third declension, vocal type.

I. Participles, numerals, praepositions, conjunctions

1. The participles are adjectives derived from a verb. The participles in the terminology are:
present active participle and past perfect participle.

 Dictionary form for present active participle:

fluctuans, ntis – floating [fluctuans (m, f, n), fluctuantis – Genitive singular]

Lat. costae fluctuantes → Engl. floating ribs (pl.)

 Dictionary form for past perfect participle:

circumflexus, a, um – circumflexed [circumflexus (m), circumflexa (f), circumflexum (n)

– Nominative singular]

Lat. arteria circumflexa → Engl. circumflex artery

I. Function of the cases in the terminology

The Latin cases are six, but in the medical terminology are used only Nominative, Genitive,
Accusative and Ablative.

1. Nominativus (Nom.) – Nominative, the subject case. It answers the question “What”
in the terminology.

Rule: The first term always stands in Nominative.5 It is a substantive term or a

phrase with agreement on gender, number and case:

5
The exception is in the new European Pharmacopoeia, where the places of Genitive and Nominative were
changed and instead of “Aqua Rosae” the new pharmaceutical phrase is “Rosae aqua” (water of Rose, Rose
water).
Lat. os parietale → Engl. parietal bone [Neuter (n), Nominative singular ([Link].)]
Lat. Noun + Adjective (N+A) → Engl. Adjective + Noun (A+N)

Lat. columna vertebralis → Engl. vertebral column [Feminine (f), ([Link].)]

Lat. Noun + Adjective (N+A) → Engl. Adjective + Noun (A+N)

Lat. aorta ascendens → Engl. ascending aorta [Feminine (f), [Link].]

Lat. Noun + Participle (N+P) → Engl. Participle + Noun (P+N)

Lat. аrteria cervicalis profunda → Engl. deep cervical artery [Feminine (f), [Link].]
Lat. Noun + Adjective1 + Adjective2 (N+A1+A2) → Engl. Adjective2 + Adjective1 + Noun
(A2+A1+N)

2. Genitivus (Gen.) – Genitive, possessive case. In Latin it’s a noun modifying another
noun and in English is represented by a noun and preposition of. In the terminology it
answers the question “Whose” and functions like Attributive Genitive:

Figure № 2: Phrase with two nouns (Noun + Noun in Genitive N +N)

Lat. corpus femoris → Engl. body of femur (thigh bone)

Noun in [Link]. + Noun in [Link]. (N + N)

Lat. angulus mandibulae → Engl. angle of mandible

Noun in [Link]. + Noun in [Link]. (N + N)

Lat. ruptura venae cavae → Engl. rupture of vena cava (hollow vein)
Noun in [Link] + Noun in [Link]. + Adjective in [Link]. (N + N + A)

NB! The stress in grammar is put on the Nominative and Genitive singular and plural because
of the specific functioning of the terminology.

3. Accusativus (Acc.) – Accusative, the direct object case.

In medical terminology Accusative is used after prepositions. The prepositions are:

ad – toward per – through

ante – in front of; before post – behind; after
circum – around propter – due to, because of
intra – inside, within trans – through
inter – between

Examples: Lat. intra venam (i.v.) → Engl. inside a vein, intravenous

 intra musculum (i.m.) – inside a muscle, intramuscular
per os – through mouth, peroral
post partum – after birth, postpartal

4. Ablativus (Abl.) – Ablative, case for separation, location, instrument, cause and time.
Ablative is used after another prepositions:

ab (a), de, ex (e) – away from

cum – with
in – inside
pro – for
sine – without

Examples: Lat. in vitro → Engl. “in a glass”, outside a living organism

in vivo – inside a living organism
in loco typico – in typical place
cum fractura – with fracture
sine fistula – without fistula

1. Clinical diagnoses

The structure of Latin diagnoses follows the general rules of medical terminology. The most
used cases are Nominative and Genitive. Accusative and Ablative are put after prepositions.

Lat. Bronchitis acuta (Noun +Adjective [Link].)

Engl. Acute bronchitis

Lat. Status post bronchitidem acutam ([Link].)

Engl. State after acute bronchitis

Lat. Infarctus myocardii (Noun + Noun Gen. sg.)

Engl. Myocardial infarction (MI)

Lat. Nephropathia gravidarum (Noun + Noun [Link].)

Engl. Nephropathy in pregnants
 Singular Plural
Nom. vertebra vertebrae
Gen. vertebrae vertebrarum
Acc. vertebram vertebras
Abl. vertebra vertebris

Singular Plural
Nom. musculus musculi
Gen. musculi musculorum
Acc. musculum musculos
Abl. musculo musculis

Singular Plural
Nom. ligamentum ligamenta
Gen. ligamenti ligamentorum
Acc. ligamentum ligamenta
Abl. ligamento ligamentis

Singular
Masculine Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nom. pes pulmo cartilago crus
Gen. pedis pulmonis cartilaginis cruris
Acc. pedem pulmonem cartilaginem crus
Abl. pede pulmone cartilagine crure

Plural
Masculine Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nom. pedes pulmones cartilagines crura
Gen. pedum pulmonum cartilaginum crurum
Acc. pedes pulmones cartilagines crura
Abl. pedibus pulmonibus cartilaginibus cruribus
 Singular Plural
Nom. pelvis pelves
Gen. pelvis pelvium
Acc. pelvim pelves

Abl. pelvi pelvibus

Singular Plural
Nom. rete retia
Gen. retis retium
Acc. rete retia
Abl. reti retibus

Singular
Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nom. canalis pars os
Gen. canalis partis ossis
Acc. canalem partem os
Abl. canale parte osse

Plural
Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nom. canales partes ossa
Gen. canalium partium ossium
Acc. canales partes ossa
Abl. canalibus partibus ossibus

Singular Plural
Nom. sinus sinus
Gen. sinus sinuum
Acc. sinum sinus
Abl. sinu sinibus
 Singular Plural
Nom. genu genua
Gen. genus genuum
Acc. genu genua
Abl. genu genibus

Singularis Pluralis
Nom. facies facies
Gen. faciēi facierum
Acc. faciem facies
Abl. facie faciebus

Latin and Greek prefixes and prefixoids

Latin prefixes and Meaning Greek prefixes and Meaning

prefixoids prefixoids

a, ab- away from allo- another

ad- (ac-, af-, ag-, al-,

toward ana- up
an-, ap-, as-)
ante- before, in front of ant(i)- against

bi- two arche(o)- old

circum- around dia- through

com- (col-, cor-, con,

with dipl(o)- double
co-)

contra- against dys- difficult, bad

de-, ex- from ecto-, ex(o)- outside

dis- apart, away en- (em-), end(o)- inside

extra-, exter(o)- outside epi- above

in- (im-), intra-,
inside eu- good
intro-

infra- below, under exo- outside

inter- between hemi- half

juxta- near hyper- excessive

 medi(o)- middle hyp(o)- below, under

multi- many, much meso- middle

non- not meta- behind

ob- against macro- large, bis

per- through micro- small

post-, poster(o)- after, behind mono- one

prae- in front of neo- new
retro- backward olig(o)- small
pro- in front of opisth(o)- backward
quadri- four orth(o)- straight
re- backward poly- many, much
semi- half syn- (sym-) with
sub- below, under tel(o)- far from
super-, supra- above tetra- four
trans- through
tri- three

Greek suffixes

Greek suffixes Meaning

-asis, -esis, -iasis, pathological process
-ysis, is, f or condition
1. pathological process
or condition;
-osis, is, f
[Link] process
or condition
-ema, atis, n swelling
-itis, itidis, f inflammation
-oma, atis, n tumor

Common Greek termelements

Greek termelement English terminology Meaning

-aesthesia, ae, f -(a)esthesia sense
brachy- brachy- short
brady- brady- slow
-crin-, -crinia, ae, f -crin-, -crinia secretion
cry(o)- cry(o)- cold
crypt(o)- crypt(o)- hidden
cyt(o)- cyt(o)- cell
-dipsia, ae, f -dipsy thirst
-dynamia, ae, f -dynamia strenght
-ergia, -urgia, ae, f -ergy, -urgy working
-genesis, is, f genesis formation of tissue
hist(o)- hist(o)- tissue
kinesi-, -kinesis, is, f kinesi-, -kinesis moving
 -logia, ae, f -logy study
orth(o)- orth(o)- straight
-pepsia, ae, f -pepsy digestion
-phagia, ae, f -phagia swallowing, eating
-phasia, ae, f; -lalia, ae, f -phasia; -lalia speech
-phonia, ae, f -phonia voice
-philia, ae, f -philia attraction
physi(o)-, -physis physi(o)-, -physis nature; growing
-phobia, ae, f -phobia fear
-plasia, ae, f -plasia formation of tissue
-pnoea, ae, f -pnea breathing
-poiesis, is, f -poiesis formation of cells
pseud(o)- pseud(o)- false
tachy- tachy- fast
therm(o)-, -thermia therm(o)-, -thermia warm
-tonia, ae, f; -tensio, onis, f -tony; -tension pressure
-trophia, ae, f -trophy nourishment of tissues

Greek termelements for pathological processes and conditions

Greek termelement English terminology Meaning

-algia, ae, f; -odynia, ae, f; -algia, -odynia; -algesia pain, ache
-algesia, ae, f
-asthenia, ae, f -astheny weakness
-cele, es, f -cele herniation
-cytosis, is, f -cytosis increased number of
cells
-ectasis, is, f; -ectasia, ae, f -ectasis dilation, broadening
-lithiasis, is, f -lithiasis formation or presence of
stones
-mycosis, is, f -mycosis fungal infection
-lysis, is, f -lysis destroying, destruction
-malacia, ae, f -malacia softening
megal(o)-, -megalia, ae, f megal(o)-, -megaly enlargement
-necrosis, is, f -necrosis death of tissue
-paresis, is, f -paresis partial paralysis
path(o)-, -pathia, ae, f path(o)-, -pathy disease
-penia, ae, f -penia decreased number of
cells
-plegia, ae, f -plegia paralysis, palsy
-ptosis, is, f -ptosis downward displacement
-rrhagia, ae, f -rrhage bleeding
-rrhoea, ae, f -rrhea flow, discharge
schis(o)-, schiz(o)-, -schisis, schis(o)-, schiz(o)-, split
is, f -schisis
scler(o)-, -sclerosis, is, f scler(o)-, -sclerosis hardening
spasm(o)-, -spasmus, i, m spasm(o)-, -spasm contraction
-stasis, is, f -stasis stoppage, standing still
sten(o)-, -stenosis, is, f sten(o)-, -stenosis narrowing
xero-, -xerosis, is, f xero-, -xerosis dry; dryness
Greek termelements for surgery and surgical interventions

Greek termelement English terminology Meaning

-centesis, is, f -centesis puncture
-clasia, ae, f -clasia breaking
-desis, is, f -desis binding of a joint or
bone
-ectomia, ae, f -ectomy removal, excision,
amputation
-lysis, is, f -lysis separation of the
adhaesions
-pexia, ae, f -pexy fixation of an organ
-plastica, ae, f -plasty plastic surgery, surgical
repair
-rrhaphia, ae, f -rrhaphy suture
-stomia, ae, f -stomy creating an opening
-tomia, ae, f -tomy cutting, incision
-tripsia, ae, f -tripsy crushing of stone(s)

Greek termelements for recording, observation, examination

Greek termelement English terminology Meaning

-gramma, atis, n -gram record
-graphia, ae, f -graphy radiology, X-ray
examination
-metria, ae, f -metria measuring
-opsia, ae, f -opsy examination of a small
sample of tissue
-scopia, ae, f -scopy instrumental
observation

Greek termelements for fluids and secretions

Greek termelement English terminology Meaning

amnio-, -amnion amnio-, -amnion amniotic fluid
blenn(o)- blenn(o)- mucus
chol(e)-, -cholia chol(e)-, -cholia bile
-chylia -chylia gastric juice
dacry(o)- dacry(o)- tears
galact(o)-, -galactia galact(o)-, -galactia milk
hidr(o)- hidr(o)- sweat
hydr(o)- hydr(o)- fluid
myx(o)- myx(o)- mucus
ptyal(o)- ptyal(o)- saliva
py(o)- py(o)- pus
sial(o)-, -sialia sial(o)-, -sialia saliva
ur(o)-, -uria, -uresis, is, f ur(o)-, -uria, -uresis urine, urination

Greek termelements for colors

Greek termelement English terminology Meaning
chromat(o)-, -chromia chromat(o)-, -chromia color
chlor(o)- chlor(o)- green
cyan(o)- cyan(o)- blue
erythr(o)- erythr(o)- 1) red; 2) pertaining to
the erythrocytes
leuc(o)-, leuk(o)- leuc(o)- 1) white; 2) pertaining
to the leucocytes
melan(o)- melan(o)- black
polio- polio- grey, pertaining to the
grey matter
xanth(o)-; cirrh(o)- xanth(o)-; cirrh(o)- yellow