Overview
Medical terminology combines Latin words with many terms of Greek origin, built from Greek term-elements. This topic covers Greek terms and loanwords, the main word-formation patterns, and the term-elements that go with first-declension Latin nouns.
The first declension
First Declension
Characterized by the stem ending "-a".
Includes nouns and adjectives that are usually feminine. For example:
"vena" - vein
"acuta" - acute
The stem letter of the nouns is "a".
The nominative singular form ends in "-a", and the genitive singular form ends in "-ae".
Masculine Nouns in the First Declension
Some masculine nouns, generally referring to occupations, belong to the first declension.
"collega, ae m" - colleague
Greek loanwords in the first declension
Greek Loanwords in the First Declension
There are two groups of Greek loanwords in the first declension:
1. Feminine
Noun Singular: "-e"
Genitive Singular: "-es"
All other endings are the same as in Latin.
"acne, es f"
"Aloë, es f"
"diastole, es f"
"dyspnoea, ae f"
"phlegmone, es f"
"systole, es f"
2. Masculine
Noun Singular: "-es"
All other endings are the same as in Latin.
There are only two words (diagnoses) that end in this way:
"ascites, ae m"
"diabetes, ae m"