UNDERSTANDING THE LANGUAGE OF MEDICINE

Term	Original Meaning	Medical Application
dura mater L. adj.dural	dura = hard, rough, tough mater = mother, symbol of protection	the relatively "tough" protective outer layer of the membranes covering brain and spinal cord
pia mater L.	pia = tender, devoted, "pious"	the more delicate innermost layer of the membranes covering brain and spinal cord
cataract Gr.	waterfall, (cata- = down,-rass = gushing, rushing)	an opacity (cloudiness) in the lens of the eye, the term compares the cloudy appearance of the diseased lens to the gushing turbulent waters that are also no longer transparent.
embryo Gr.	bryon = bud, sprout, growth, em- = within	the developing offspring in the womb
eclampsia Gr.	lampein = to shine, to hold up a lamp; ec- = out, gone out	hypertensive disease of pregnancy, toxic complication of pregnancy, that is fatal if not diagnosed and treated early and that was known to "put out the patient’s light of life"

E. Many other terms were borrowed from names of tools, utensils or structures
familiar in daily life:

Term	Original Meaning	Medical Application
atrium L pl. atria	entry hall	the right or left entry-chamber of the heart
bursa L pl. bursae	purse or money bag	a fluid-filled sac-like pad located near joints to reduce friction
clavicle L. adj.clavicular	little bolt or locking device	collar bone
corona L. adj. coronary	crown pert. to one or more branches of the coronary artery	coronary artery = the artery that supplies the heart muscle with blood by its "crown-like" branches