In this section, we analyze the parts of speech without which it is impossible to correctly write a prescription or decode a complex anatomical term. Latin numerals, adverbs, and pronouns form the linguistic foundation for understanding dosages, localizations, and quantitative characteristics in medicine.
The section is divided into four key topics. We will study cardinal and ordinal Latin numerals, examine numeral prefixes (you will learn how terms like biceps or mononucleosis are constructed), and go over prescription adverbs and the most common pronouns.
Pay close attention: during classes, instructors are strictest about knowing the difference between Latin and Greek prefixes (for example, when to write semi- and when hemi-), and they require you to memorize prescription adverbs (statim, cito, quantum satis) to the point of automatic recall. This baseline will save you a lot of stress in your future pharmacology classes.