Medical Terminology - Lesson 4

[Ardavan Shahrdar]

Medical Terminology
*******************
*Bi-*

The prefix 'Bi-' comes from the Greek worf 'Twi' which
means 'Two'.
Examples:
1. Biarticulate:

'Articulus' in Latin means 'joint'.

So 'Biarticular' means 'having or consisting of two
joints'.
2. Biceps:

'Ceps' comes from the Latin word 'Caput' which means
head.

So 'Biceps' means two-headed. It is the name of the
flexor muscle in front of the upper arm which is a
two-headed muscle.
3. Bilateral:

'Lateral' comes from the Latin word 'Latus' which
means 'side'.

So 'Bilateral' means having two sides.
4. Bicuspid:

'Cusp' comes from the Latin word 'Cuspis' which means
'point, prominence'.

So 'Bicuspid' means having two prominences; like
bicuspid valve (Mitral valve) in heart or bicuspid
teeth.
5. Bifida:

'fida' comes from the Latin verb 'findere' which means
'to split'.

Bifida means to be splitted into two parts. Like the
congentinal abnormality 'Spina Bifida' in which there
is a congenital cleft of the vertebral column with
hernial protrusion of meninges.
6. Bifurcate:

'Furca' in Latin means 'Scissors'.

Bifucate (as an adjective) means divided into two
branches.
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
___________________________________________________________ALL-NEW Yahoo! Messenger - sooooo many all-new ways to express yourself http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com