Medical Terminology - Lesson 7

[Ardavan Shahrdar]

Medical Terminology
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*Hemi-*

Hemi- in Greek means 'Half of'. The original root
comes from 'Sami-' in Skt which means 'Half'.
Examples:
1. Hemithorax:

'Thorax' comes from the Sanskrit word 'dharayati'
which means 'he holds, keeps'. Yes, the thoracic
cavity keeps lung, heart inside it!

So 'Hemithorax' means 'a lateral half of the thorax'.
2. Hemiplegia:

As mentioned in lesson 5, '-plegia' means paralysis.

Hemiplegia means 'Paralysis of one lateral half of the
body'.

Pay attention to this point that in medical
terminology usually hemi- is used as lateral half.
3. Hemicrania:

'Cranium' comes from the Greek word 'Kara' which means
'head'.

'Hemicrania' was the old word for Migraine; pain in
one side of the head!

Search your repertory and you see this word!
4. Hemianopsia:

'Opsis' in Greek means 'vision'.

Hemianopsia means 'Blindness of one half of the visual
field and affecting one or both eyes'.

It is also named 'Hemiopsia' and 'Hemiopia'.

Here 'Hemi' does not necessarily means later half.
5. Hemiballism:

'Ballismos' in Greek means 'dancing'. It is the root
for Ballet, Ball room, Ballistics,...!

'Hemiballism' is a disease characterized by violent
uncontrollable movements of one lateral half of the
body.

It is also named 'Hemiballismus', 'Hemiballism' and
'Hemiballismuses'. In homeopathic repertories usually
the term 'Hemiballism' is used.
Regards,

Ardavan

=====
"Life is beautiful, if you look at it in a beautiful way."

Dr Ardavan Shahrdar, MD, DIHom
President of Iranian Homeopathic Association
Website: http://www.minutus.org
Email: ashahrdar@yahoo.com
Mailing list: http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/minutus
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[Eleana Needham]

I was interested to see that "thorax" comes from Sanskrit, Ardavan!

I always thought it came from the Greek "thorax" which has two main
meanings:
(a) armoured or enclosed in protection,
(b) the thoracic cavity itself

Best
Eleana

1. Hemithorax:

'Thorax' comes from the Sanskrit word 'dharayati'
which means 'he holds, keeps'. Yes, the thoracic
cavity keeps lung, heart inside it!

So 'Hemithorax' means 'a lateral half of the thorax'.

_________________________________________________________________
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[Ardavan Shahrdar]

Dear Eleana,

Yes, actually the Greek 'Thorax' is in the middle of
the development of the term!

Best,

Ardavan

--- Eleana Needham wrote: > I
was interested to see that "thorax" comes from
_________________________________________________________________

=====
"Life is beautiful, if you look at it in a beautiful way."

Dr Ardavan Shahrdar, MD, DIHom
President of Iranian Homeopathic Association
Website: http://www.minutus.org
Email: ashahrdar@yahoo.com
Mailing list: http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/minutus
___________________________________________________________ALL-NEW Yahoo! Messenger - sooooo many all-new ways to express yourself http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com