Sources of Modern Russian Medical Terminology

Main groups of terminological sources

Depending on the origin of the words, all modern medical vocabulary is generally divided into four basic groups:

1. Native Russian terms.
2. Classicismisms (grecisms and latinisms). These are terms that were borrowed or artificially constructed and then fully assimilated—adapted to the phonetic and morphological rules of the Russian language. For the most part, these are the ones that function as internationalisms.
3. Native Western Europeanisms. Vocabulary originating from modern Western European languages. It also frequently performs an international function.
4. Special terms (termini technici). Expressions and words that are graphically and grammatically structured strictly in Latin.

The role of classical languages and neoclassicisms

Ancient Greek and Latin remain the primary sources for designating new medical concepts. They have significant advantages over living languages:

• Stability of meaning. The meaning of the roots is not distorted under the influence of colloquial speech or historical changes.
• Easy integration. New words seamlessly embed into terminological systems that have been built on an ancient foundation for centuries.
• Specialization. Ancient elements can be assigned a highly specialized meaning that they did not possess in the original language.

Starting from the late 19th century, scientists from various countries began massively creating neoclassicisms—artificial terms based on classical material. Unlike ancient words, neoclassicisms often have known authors. For example, J. André coined the term orthopedics, R. Laënnec — cirrhosis and stethoscope, R. Virchow — leukemia and amyloid. Russian scientists also made their contribution: I.I. Mechnikov introduced the concept of phagocyte, and N.E. Vvedensky — parabiosis. In most cases, such author-attributed terms are formed according to the rules of Latin grammar.

Pathways of borrowing and hybrid terms

Greco-Latin words rarely entered the Russian language directly. Most often, they came through Western European languages. Terms appeared in different countries almost simultaneously, making it very difficult to establish the exact source language. However, phonetic markers can point to the intermediary language. For instance, classical Latin and Ancient Greek did not have the [sh] sound. If it is present in a word (sciatica, schizothymia), it is a reliable sign of borrowing via the German language.

Another marker of artificial origin is hybrid words. These are non-classical terms assembled from elements of different languages:

• Latin root + Greek root: vagotomia (Lat. vagus — vagus nerve + Gk. tome — incision), rectoscopia (Lat. rectum — rectum + Gk. scopeo — to examine).
• Greek prefix + Latin stem: hyperfunction, hypotension, perivascular.

Western Europeanisms and Termini technici

Native Western Europeanisms are represented rather sparsely in our medical terminology. They are typically found in genetics, hygiene, physiology, and the names of medical equipment, but are extremely rare in disease nomenclature.

A special place is occupied by special terms (termini technici). This is a supranational sign system that preserves the nominative function of Latin. It allows specialists from different countries to understand each other unambiguously. Pure Latin is mandatory in international nomenclatures: anatomical, histological, embryological, as well as in botany and microbiology.

In clinical practice, termini technici are used as an optional tool. Physicians can use them alongside terms in national languages (as synonym doublets) or without translation. Classic examples: carcinoma in situ (early-stage cancer, "cancer in its place"), genu valgum (knock-knee), and genu varum (bow-leg).

Briefly: answers to topical questions

Class and exam questions

What else to study on this topic

• Mechanisms of phonetic and morphological adaptation of borrowed terms.
• Specifics of using native Western Europeanisms in medical equipment and genetics.
• The role of the Latin language in modern international nomenclatures (anatomical and histological).
• The phenomenon of doubletism: how internationalisms and their Russian equivalents interact.
• The history of creating well-known author-attributed neoclassicisms in the 19th–20th centuries.

Other topics from the section "From the History of the Physician's Professional Language"

Prepared by WhiteCoat Pro faculty in accordance with the medical school curriculum. For educational purposes only.