The Language of Suffering: What Medical Words Remember

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My links:My Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/rhetoricrevolutionSend me a voice message!: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/liam-connerlyTikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@mrconnerly?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc⁠Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connerlyliam/Podcast | Latin in Layman’s - A Rhetoric Revolution https://open.spotify.com/show/0EjiYFx1K4lwfykjf5jApM?si=b871da6367d74d92YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MrConnerly -emia: suffix derived from Greek ἐμός (emos) meaning “blood”It comes from the Greek root word, haima, which translates to “blood”.Anemia: a condition in which an individual has low levels of healthy red blood cells.Etymological Definition: From the Greek root word, haima, which translates to “blood”.Leukemia: a type of cancer that affects the body’s ability to produce healthy white blood cells.Etymological Definition: From the Greek root word, leukos, which means “white”.Thrombocytopenia: a condition in which the body produces fewer blood platelets than it should.Etymological Definition: From the Greek roots words, thrombos, which means “clot” and kytos, which means “hollow”.Stylemia: a condition in which the body has high levels of iron in the bloodstream.Etymological Definition: From the Greek root word, stylos, which translates to “an iron bar”.Hypervolemia: a condition in which the body has an excess of plasma in the blood.Etymological Definition: From the Greek root word, hyper, which means “over” and volêma, which means “volume”.Polycythemia: a condition in which the body produces too many red blood cells.Etymological Definition: From the Greek root words, poly, which means “many” and kytos, which means “cell”.Hyponatremia: a condition in which the body has a low sodium level in the blood.Etymological Definition: From the Greek root words, hypo, which means “under” and natrêm, which means “salt”.Dyskalemia: a type of electrolyte imbalance that affects the body’s sodium and potassium levels.Etymological Definition: From the Greek root words, dys, which means “abnormal” and kalêm, which means “potassium”.Eosinophilia: a condition in which the body produces more eosinophils (a type of white blood cells) than normal.Etymological Definition: From the Greek root words, eos, which means “dawn” and phulon, which means “light”.Hematemia: the presence of red blood cells in the bloodEtymology: mid 19th century; from Greek haimat- ‘blood’ + -emiaNeutropenia: a condition in which there is an abnormally low number of neutrophils in the bloodEtymology: early 20th century; from Greek neuter ‘neutrophil’ + -penia ‘deficiency’ + -emiaLeukocytosis: an increase in the number of white blood cells in the bloodEtymology: late 19th century; from Greek leukos ‘white’ + kytos ‘cell’ + -osis ‘condition’ + -emiaErythrocytosis: an increase in the number of red blood cells in the bloodEtymology: late 19th century; from Greek erythros ‘red’ + kytos ‘cell’ + -osis ‘condition’ + -emiaAnoxemia: a lack of oxygen in the bloodEtymology: early 20th century; from Greek an- ‘without’ + oxys ‘sharp’ + -emiaHypoxemia: a low amount of oxygen in the bloodEtymology: early 20th century; from Greek hypo- ‘below’ + oxys ‘oxygen’ + -emiaHyperoxemia: a high amount of oxygen in the bloodEtymology: early 20th century; from Greek hyper- ‘over’ + oxys ‘sharp’ + -emiaUremia: a condition in which the amount of waste products in the blood is abnormally highEtymology: early 20th century; from Greek ouros ‘urine’ + -emia

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My links:My Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/rhetoricrevolutionSend me a voice message!: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/liam-connerlyTikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@mrconnerly?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc⁠Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connerlyliam/Podcast | Latin in Layman’s - A Rhetoric Revolution https://open.spotify.com/show/0EjiYFx1K4lwfykjf5jApM?si=b871da6367d74d92YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MrConnerly Greek-leaning pathology words1. PathologyFrom Greek pathos = suffering, feeling, diseaseand logos = study, accountSo pathology literally means the study of suffering/disease.This is a great opener because it shows how medical language often begins not with the body, but with the idea of human suffering.From Greek kardia = heartYou get:cardiac arresttachycardia = fast heartbradycardia = slow heartVery teachable because once people know cardi-, they start seeing it everywhere.From Greek neuron = nerve, sinewUsed in:neuropathyneurologyneurosisA nice example of how one root moves from the physical body into psychology and culture.From Greek arthron = jointplus -itis = inflammationSo arthritis literally means inflammation of the joint.This is one of the most useful medical suffixes to teach:tonsillitisbronchitisdermatitisFrom Greek gaster = stomachplus -itisLiterally inflammation of the stomach.You can connect this to:gastricgastrologygastrointestinalFrom Greek derma = skinplus -itisLiterally inflammation of the skin.This root is highly visible in:epidermisdermatologyhypodermicFrom Greek nephros = kidneyplus -itisLiterally kidney inflammation.Good pair with the Latin root below for kidney, because English often keeps both a Greek and Latin tradition alive.From Greek hepar, hepat- = liverplus -itisLiterally inflammation of the liver.This one is a perfect example of a form that looks strange in English until you know the root.From Greek haima / hem- = bloodand rhēgnynai / -rrhage = to burst forthSo hemorrhage is basically blood bursting out.This is vivid, memorable, and very good for an audience because they can feel the image in the word.From Greek an- = withoutand haima = bloodLiterally without blood or lack of blood.Not perfectly literal in modern physiology, of course, but etymologically very revealing.From Greek kyanos = dark blueplus -osis = conditionLiterally the blue condition.Excellent for showing how medical language often names visible bodily states very directly.From Greek leukos = whiteand haima = bloodLiterally white blood.A striking example of descriptive naming based on what was observed.From Greek paralysis = loosening, disablingfrom para- + lyein = to loosenSo it carries the sense of being loosened apart or disabled.Great for showing that many disease terms began as verbs of bodily action.From Greek dia- = throughand rhein = to flowLiterally flowing through.Extremely memorable and surprisingly elegant once broken down.From Greek dys- = bad, difficultand pepsis = digestionLiterally bad digestion.A useful root pair because dys- appears all over pathology:dysfunctiondyspneadysphagiaFrom Greek dys- = difficultand pnoē = breathLiterally difficult breathing.Very accessible for an audience because the meaning becomes obvious once you crack it open.From Greek dys- = difficultand phagein = to eatLiterally difficulty eating/swallowing.Good chance to explain how roots shift over time into more technical meanings.From Greek nekros = dead body, corpseplus -osis = conditionLiterally the condition of dead tissue.Dark, vivid, and very podcast-friendly.From Greek onkos = mass, burden, tumorplus logos = studyLiterally the study of tumors/masses.This surprises people because the modern word feels so distant from its root.From Greek psyche = soul, mindplus -osis = condition

My links:My Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/rhetoricrevolutionSend me a voice message!: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/liam-connerlyTikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@mrconnerly?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc⁠Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connerlyliam/Podcast | Latin in Layman’s - A Rhetoric Revolution https://open.spotify.com/show/0EjiYFx1K4lwfykjf5jApM?si=b871da6367d74d92YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MrConnerly 1. Lobotomy: A surgical procedure involving the cutting or scraping away of a part of the brain, usually the frontal lobes, in order to treat mental illness. Etymology: From the Greek roots “lobo” (meaning “lobe”) and “tomy” (meaning “to cut”).1. Lobectomy: Surgical removal of a lobe of an organ, typically the lung.2. Hysterectomy: A surgical procedure in which the uterus is removed, either partially or completely. Etymology: From the Greek roots “hystera” (meaning “uterus”) and “tomy” (meaning “to cut”).3. Appendectomy: Surgical removal of the appendix.5. Mastectomy: Surgical removal of the breast.“Mastos” (meaning “breast”)6. Nephrectomy: Surgical removal of a kidney. (Nephrologist)3. Phlebotomy: The practice of making an incision (or puncture) into a vein in order to draw out blood. Etymology: From the Greek roots “phlebos” (meaning “vein”) and “tomy” (meaning “to cut”).4. Thoracotomy: A surgical procedure in which an incision is made in the chest wall, usually to diagnose or treat a condition of the lungs or other organs in the chest. Etymology: From the Greek roots “thorax” (meaning “chest”) and “tomy” (meaning “to cut”).10. Thyroidectomy: Surgical removal of a part or all of the thyroid gland.5. Uvulotomy: A surgical procedure in which a portion of the uvula, a small fleshy protuberance at the back of the throat, is removed. Etymology: From the Latin root “uvula” (meaning “little grape”) and “tomy” (meaning “to cut”).6. Gastrotomy: A surgical procedure in which an incision is made in the stomach in order to diagnose or treat an abdominal condition. Etymology: From the Greek roots “gaster” (meaning “stomach”) and “tomy” (meaning “to cut”).7. Gastrectomy: Surgical removal of part or all of the stomach.7. Amputation: The surgical removal of a limb, either partially or completely. Etymology: From the Latin root “amputare” (meaning “to cut off”).1. Appendicitis: inflammation of the appendix, from the Greek word "itis" meaning inflammation.2. Gastritis: inflammation of the stomach lining, from the Greek word "gaster" meaning stomach.3. Bronchitis: inflammation of the bronchial tubes, from the Greek word "bronchia" meaning windpipe.4. Sinusitis: inflammation of the sinuses, from the Greek word "sinus" meaning curve.5. Nephritis: inflammation of the kidneys, from the Greek word "nephros" meaning kidney.6. Colitis: inflammation of the colon, from the Greek word "kolon" meaning large intestine.7. Cystitis: inflammation of the urinary bladder, from the Greek word "kystis" meaning bladder.8. Urethritis: inflammation of the urethra, from the Greek word "ouretheros" meaning urinary canal.9. Peritonitis: inflammation of the peritoneum, from the Greek word "peritoneon" meaning covering.10. Otitis: inflammation of the ear, from the Greek word "otos" meaning ear.