Action verbs in clinical guidelines
The basis of many clinical sentences consists of verbs expressing a direct instruction or recommendation by a physician. In Latin, the imperative mood is actively used for these purposes.
The following forms are frequently encountered in texts:
- Praescribe — translated as «prescribe» or «order». This is a direct instruction for issuing a prescription for a specific medicinal product.
- Adhibe — translated as «apply» or «use». This verb is usually addressed to the patient or medical staff, indicating the necessity of using the drug.
The correct translation of these verbs sets the tone for the entire sentence, turning it from a mere statement into a clinical instruction.
Constructions indicating diseases and symptoms
To indicate the specific condition for which a drug is prescribed, the preposition ad is often used in Latin in combination with the name of the pathology. When translated into Russian, such a construction is rendered using the preposition «при» (in case of / for).
Examples of translating pathological conditions:
- ad stenocardiam — for angina pectoris;
- ad myalgiam — for myalgia (which literally means muscle pain);
- ad arthralgiam — for arthralgia (translated as joint pain).
In addition to indicating diseases (e.g., tussim), clinical sentences contain other prepositional constructions specifying the dosage form or the recipient of the drug. These include the expressions pro infantibus (for children), pro injectionibus (for injections), and ad usum externum (for external use).
Pharmaceutical substances and brand names
An important skill in translation is the ability to distinguish between the active ingredient and specific brand names of drugs.
A standard phrase often appears in clinical sentences: Praeparata cum substantia pharmaceutica. It translates as "Preparations with a pharmaceutical substance." It is usually followed by the International Nonproprietary Name (INN, or INN — International Nonproprietary Name).
Let us examine examples of drugs mentioned in clinical tasks:
- Preparations containing the substance "Atenololum" (Atenolol): Apo-Atenol, Aten, Atenobene, Atenova, Atenolan, Atcardil, Betacard, Vaskoten.
- Drugs prescribed for angina pectoris: "Cordanum", "Cordarone", "Corinfar". In the text, they may be joined by the conjunction aut (or), which indicates the possibility of choosing one of the options.
- Drugs used for pain: "Pentalginum" and "Finalgonum". They are often linked by the conjunction et (and) if prescribed together.
Briefly: answers to topical questions
Which grammatical case are the prepositions ad and pro used with in Latin?
The preposition pro in Latin is used with the Ablative case (Ablativus). The exact case name for the preposition ad is not specified, but examples of its use in clinical and prescription practice are provided:
- For angina pectoris (ad stenocardiam) — indication of the disease.
- For myalgia and arthralgia (ad myalgiam et arthralgiam) — use for pain.
- For external use (ad usum externum) — method of administration.
- For internal use (ad usum internum) — method of administration.
Which verbs in the subjunctive mood (conjunctive) are used in prescriptions?
The following verbs in the passive voice subjunctive mood (Conjunctivus) are used in prescriptions:
- Let it be mixed (misceatur).
- Let it be dispensed (detur).
- Let them be dispensed (dentur) — a form agreed with the plural word doses.
- Let it be labeled (signetur).
These forms express an urge to action or a command and are equivalent to the imperative mood forms.
How is the Latin word tussim translated and which declension does it belong to?
The Latin word tussim translates into Russian as «cough». It is found in the expression tabulettae contra tussim — «cough tablets». Information regarding the declension of this noun is absent in the provided materials.
To remember the translation of the preposition «ad» with diseases, associate it with the word «addressee» — the drug is directed (used FOR) a specific disease.
Class and exam questions
What mood are the verbs Adhibe and Praescribe in?
These verbs are in the imperative mood. They express the physician's instruction and are translated as «apply» and «prescribe» respectively.
What does the abbreviation INN mean?
INN stands for International Nonproprietary Name (INN). It is the official name of the active substance of a drug (e.g., Atenolol).
How is the conjunction «aut» translated in prescriptions?
The conjunction aut translates as «or». It is used to list alternative drugs, for example: Cordanum aut Cordarone.
What else to study on this topic
- Grammatical features of the imperative mood in Latin
- The difference between the prepositions ad and pro in clinical terminology
- Greek term elements denoting pain (using myalgia and arthralgia as examples)
- Principles of forming brand names from INN (using Atenolol derivatives as an example)
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Other topics in the section "Accusativus and Ablativus. Prepositions. Prescription. Prescription Line"
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