Nominative case in Latin

The role of the nominative case in the Latin language system

In classical Latin grammar, there are 6 cases:

• Nominativus (nominative) — answers the questions "who? what?";
• Genetivus (genitive) — "of whom? of what?";
• Dativus (dative) — "to whom? to what?";
• Accusativus (accusative) — "whom? what?";
• Ablativus (ablative) — "by whom? with what?";
• Vocativus (vocative) — used when addressing someone.

Despite this variety, only two cases are used for the nomination (naming) of objects and phenomena in medical terminology: the nominative and the genitive.

The nominative case is a direct case. This means it demonstrates the complete absence of relations between words in a sentence. Its main and only task is direct naming. By comparison, the genitive case has a fundamentally different, characterizing meaning.

The nominative case in dictionary entries

Any Latin noun must be learned in its full dictionary form. It consists of three mandatory components, and the nominative case plays a leading role here, acting as the starting point for declension.

The dictionary form includes:

1. The nominative case form (Nominativus).
2. The genitive case ending (Genetivus).
3. The abbreviated designation of grammatical gender (m — masculine, f — feminine, n — neuter).

For example, the entry costa, ae, f (rib), ligamentum, i, n (ligament), or musculus, i, m (muscle) always begins with the Nominativus form.

Application in anatomical nomenclature

In anatomy, the nominative case is actively used in both singular and plural (Nominativus Pluralis). Most often, it acts as the head word of a multi-word term, to which dependent modifiers are attached.

In anatomical nomenclature, the Nominativus Pluralis form is ubiquitous. Here are just a few examples of the correct translation of structures in the plural:

• Bone and cartilaginous systems: Cartilagines nasi (nasal cartilages), Margines scapulae (margins of the scapula), Articulationes vertebrales (vertebral joints), Articulationes interphalangeae pedis (interphalangeal joints of the foot), Foramina pelvica (pelvic foramina).
• Nervous system: Sinus durae matris (dural venous sinuses), Folia cerebelli (folia of the cerebellum), Radices spinales (spinal roots), Nervi spinales (spinal nerves).
• Internal organs and glands: Glandulae suprarenales (suprarenal glands), Papillae renales (renal papillae), Ventriculi laryngis (laryngeal ventricles), Glandulae pharyngeae (pharyngeal glands), Glandulae gastricae propriae (proper gastric glands), Cellulae ethmoidales (ethmoidal cells).
• Vessels and muscles: Rami cardiaci cervicales inferiores (inferior cervical cardiac branches), Arteriae cordis (arteries of the heart), Musculi dorsi (muscles of the back), Trunci lymphatici et ductus [lymphatici] (lymphatic trunks and ducts).
• Other structures: Glandulae molares (molar glands), Bursae et vaginae synoviales (synovial bursae and sheaths), Recessus subhepatici (subhepatic recesses), Spatia intervaginalia (intervaginal spaces).

The nominative case in pharmacy

When prescribing medications and naming dosage forms, the nominative case is also indispensable. It is used for the basic naming of a drug, preparation, or active substance.

For example, ethyl alcohol in the direct case is pronounced as Spiritus aethylicus (in the genitive — Spiritus aethylici).

Interestingly, some pharmaceutical terms are used exclusively in the plural. Thus, diuretic herbal tea is translated as Species diureticae, where the noun species is in the Nominativus Pluralis form (in the genitive case, this will be Specierum diureticarum).

If the preposition cum (with) appears in the name, as in the term Membranulae ophthalmicae cum Dicaino (ophthalmic films with dicaine) or Lamellae ophthalmicae cum Dicaino, then the head word itself remains in the nominative case, while the preposition requires the use of the ablative case (Ablativus).

Class and exam questions

What else to study on this topic

• The genitive case (Genetivus) and its characterizing meaning in terms.
• The ablative case (Ablativus) and the rules for its use with the preposition cum.
• Features of translating pharmaceutical terms used only in the plural (using species as an example).
• Rules for constructing multi-word anatomical terms in the Nominativus Pluralis.

Other topics in the "Additional Topics" section

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