Latin and Lithuanian Anatomical Terms in “Medicinos terminų žodynas”: Two-Word Anatomical Terms

Abstract

Based on the collected material, the article reviews the aspects of the appearance of Lithuanian anatomical terms. Anatomical terms, like terms in general, must be short and informative. The scientific-technical term must be accurate, short, and easy to use so that it can be used as a constituent of a new term. Traditional Latin terminology, in some cases, of course, is more precise than Lithuanian: the same thing in Lithuanian dialects has several or even dozens of names. However, the majority of medical terms are composite terms. Composite terms are most productive. Lithuanian terminology has been developed since the last decades of the 19th century. The latest Lithuanian-Latin Dictionary of Medical Terms by Vytautas Astrauskas, Stasys Biziulevičius, Salezijus Pavilonis, Adomas Vaitilavičius, and Antanas Vileišis was issued in 1980. The terms of anatomy are given according to the Paris Anatomical Nomenclature with the amendments of New York (1960) and Wiesbaden (1965). Non-relevant terms were rejected. The terms created from scientists’ surnames as well as the names of proprietary and branded medications, were also not included. The terms of histology and embryology are presented in accordance with the international nomenclature approved at the International Congress on Anatomy held in Leningrad in 1970. The dictionary has contributed to the process of purification, standardization, and different development of written Lithuanian language.