Latin · MU Sofia

Protocol 15: Cavum Cranii

Introduces Greek and Latin roots, prefixes and suffixes used in brain and nervous-system terminology, with three reference tables covering prefixes, roots and suffixes and their Latin equivalents. Shows how encephalon combined with prefixes names parts of the brain and forms diagnostic terms such as diencephalitis. Then goes through disease terms grouped by brain and memory, mental and mood, facial and head, and other disorders, giving each word's meaning, its components and a Latin equivalent.

Inside: 4 sections · 3 tables · 62 flashcards · 5 min

Topic 17 of 23 in the MU Sofia syllabus for Latin (Medicine, Year 1). The free AceMed note covers it in 4 sections, about 451 words (5 min of reading), with 62 flashcards.

In this note

  1. Lesson: Medical Terminology – Understanding Brain Disorders
  2. Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes
  3. Brain Parts and Their Prefixes
  4. Diseases

Lesson: Medical Terminology – Understanding Brain Disorders

Overview

This lesson will help you understand medical terms related to Disorders of the Brain and Spinal Cord. You'll learn the Greek and Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes that form these terms, making it easier to decipher medical vocabulary.

Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes

Prefixes

Roots

Suffixes

Brain Parts and Their Prefixes

When adding prefixes to "encephalon" (Greek for brain), we get terms for different parts of the brain:

  • Diencephalon: Inter-brain or thalamic brain, which includes the epithalamus, thalamus, and hypothalamus.
  • Mesencephalon: Mid-brain, consisting of the pedunculi cerebri and corpora quadrigemina.
  • Metencephalon: After-brain, which comprises the pons Varolii and cerebellum.
  • Telencephalon: End-brain.
  • Myelencephalon: After-brain or medullary brain, synonymous with the medulla oblongata.
  • Rhombencephalon: Hind-brain, which includes the pons Varolii and myelencephalon.

These terms can also be modified to create diagnostic terms:

  • Mesencephalitis: Inflammation of the mid-brain.
  • Diencephalitis: Inflammation of the inter-brain

Diseases

Brain and Memory Disorders

Diencephalitis

  1. Meaning: Inflammation of the inter-brain.
  2. Components: di(a)- (in-between) + encephal- (brain) + itis (inflammation).
  3. Latin Equivalent: inflammatio diencephali.

Mesencephalitis

  1. Meaning: Inflammation of the mid-brain.
  2. Components: mes- (middle) + encephal- (brain) + itis (inflammation).
  3. Latin Equivalent: inflammatio mesencephali.

Osteomyelitis

  1. Meaning: Inflammation of the bone marrow.
  2. Components: osteo- (bone) + myel- (marrow) + itis (inflammation).
  3. Latin Equivalent: inflammatio medullae ossium.

Amnesia

  1. Meaning: Memory loss.
  2. Components: a- (without) + mnes- (memory) + ia (condition).
  3. Latin Equivalent: amnesia.

Dysthymia

  1. Meaning: Chronic mood disorder.
  2. Components: dys- (disorder) + thymia (mood).
  3. Latin Equivalent: dysphoria.

Mental and Mood Disorders

Schizophrenia

  1. Meaning: Multiple (split) personality.
  2. Components: schiz- (split) + phren- (mind).
  3. Latin Equivalent: dementia praecox.

Megalomania

  1. Meaning: Delusion of grandeur.
  2. Components: megalo- (large) + mania (addiction).
  3. Latin Equivalent: megalomania.

Epilepsia

  1. Meaning: Epilepsy.
  2. Components: epi- (upon) + lepsia (seizure).
  3. Latin Equivalent: morbus sacer.

Facial and Head Disorders

Prosopagnosia

  1. Meaning: Inability to recognize faces.
  2. Components: prosop- (face) + agnosia (lack of knowledge).
  3. Latin Equivalent: agnosia facierum.

Dicheilia

  1. Meaning: Double lip.
  2. Components: di- (two) + cheil- (lip) + ia (condition).
  3. Latin Equivalent: labium duplex.

Hemiplegia

  1. Meaning: Paralysis of one side of the body.
  2. Components: hemi- (half) + plegia (paralysis).
  3. Latin Equivalent: hemiplegia.

Other Disorders

Hypnosis

  1. Meaning: Hypnotic state.
  2. Components: hypn- (sleep) + osis (condition).
  3. Latin Equivalent: hypnosis.

Narcolepsia

  1. Meaning: Narcolepsy, a decreased ability to regulate sleep-wake cycles.
  2. Components: narc- (sleep) + lepsia (seizure).
  3. Latin Equivalent: narcolepsia.

Nosophobia

  1. Meaning: Fear of disease.
  2. Components: noso- (disease) + phobia (fear).
  3. Latin Equivalent: nosophobia.

Xenophobia

  1. Meaning: Fear of strangers or foreigners.
  2. Components: xeno- (stranger) + phobia (fear).
  3. Latin Equivalent: xenophobia.

Paedophilia

  1. Meaning: Sexual attraction to children.

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