Russian-Latin Medical Dictionary: Letters L, M, N

Anatomical terms: Letter L

This group includes the names of major bones, facial structures, and internal organs.

• Bones and joints: The ulna translates as ulna, ae f, and the radius as radius, i m. The elbow is designated by the word cubitus, i m, and the olecranon is termed olecrānon, i n. The scapula (shoulder blade) is scapŭla, ae f. On the lower limb, the malleolus (ankle) is distinguished as malleŏlus, i m. The pubis (pubic bone) is pubes, is f.
• Face and head: Face in Latin is facies, ēi f, forehead is frons, frontis f. The corresponding adjectives: facial — facialis, e, frontal — frontalis, e.
• Internal organs: Lung translates as pulmo, ōnis m. Renal pelvis is pelvis renalis.

Terminology: Letter M

Among the terms starting with the letter M, a large group describes the nervous system, as well as pelvic organs and muscles.

• Nervous system: The brain as a whole is designated by the Greek term encephălon, i n, whereas the cerebrum is cerĕbrum, i n. Cerebellum translates as cerebellum, i n, and spinal cord as medulla spinalis. The pons is pons, pontis m.
• Musculoskeletal system: Muscle is muscŭlus, i m. Fibula has the Latin translation fibŭla, ae f. Condyle is denoted by the word condy̆lus, i m.
• Internal organs: Uterus is utěrus, i m, mammary gland (breast) is mamma, ae f. Myocardium translates as myocardium, i n, and tonsil as tonsilla, ae f.
• Dentistry: Premolar tooth — dens premolaris, molar tooth — dens molaris, and deciduous (primary/milk) tooth — dens deciduus.

Terminology: Letter N

The vocabulary for the letter N is rich in topographical landmarks, names of pathological processes, and anatomical structures.

• Topography and landmarks: Prefixes help form terms: supraorbital — supraorbitalis, e, supraclavicular — supraclavicularis, e, suprahyoid — suprahyoideus, a, um, epigastric — epigastrĭcus, a, um. Inferior (lower) — inferior, ius, descending — descendens, entis.
• Structures: Periosteum — periosteum, i n, patella (kneecap) — patella, ae f, mandible (lower jaw) — mandibŭla, ae f. Nose — nasus, i m, nostril — naris, is f. Nerve — nervus, i m.
• Clinical concepts: Necrosis — necrōsis, is f, neoplasm — neoplasma, atis n, bowel obstruction (ileus) — ileus, i m, insufficiency/failure — insufficientia, ae f.

Pharmacy and prescription writing

This section presents a variety of dosage forms, medicinal plants, and drugs:

1. Dosage forms: Ointment — unguentum, i n, liniment (liquid ointment) — linimentum, i n, mixture/solution — mixtūra, ae f, infusion — infūsum, i n, tincture — tinctūra, ae f.
2. General concepts: Medication or medicinal agent can be translated with two synonyms: medicamentum, i n and remedium, i n. Curative/therapeutic — curatīvus, a, um.
3. Plants: Lily of the valley — convallaria, ae f, flax — linum, i n, peppermint — mentha piperīta, foxglove (digitalis) — digitālis, is f.
4. Drugs and substances: Levomycetin — laevomycetīnum, i n, lidase — lidāsum, i n, morphine — morphīnum, i n, novocaine — novocaīnum, i n, nitroglycerin — nitroglycerīnum, i n, lactic acid — acidum lacticum.

Briefly: answers to topical questions

Class and exam questions

What else to study on this topic

• Declension of Greek nouns (encephalon, olecranon)
• Formation of comparative adjectives (minor, inferior)
• Chemical nomenclature (suffixes -as, -is for salts: lactas, nitras, nitris)
• Specifics of translating dental terms (types of teeth)

Other topics in the "Russian-Latin Dictionary" section

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