Expert: David W. Richardson - 6/3/2004

Question
How history of medicine had its influence on medical language ?

Answer
Dear Ms. Langin,

Medicine started with the early Greeks, Hippocrates et al.  The Romans adopted their medicine and since Latin was the language of the educated throughout Europe, Latin medical terms entered Engilsh.  The Latin names persist  for most anatomical objects, like femur and tibia  and cardiac and gastric and colon, for many diseases like hepatitis and encepahalitis and appendicitis, and for many operations like craniotomy and gastrectomy.

David Richardson