Lecture 1 An Introduction to Medical English

Warm-up Can you list the medical courses you know ?

Fundamental Medical Courses  biology  physiology  biochemistry, physical chemistry, organic chemistry, abiochemistry/inorganic chemistry,  Anatomy (systematic anatomy and regional anatomy)  microbiology  Parasitology

Fundamental Medical Courses  histoembryology (histology and embryology)  pharmacology  genetics  immunology  pathology (pathophysiology, pathoanatomy )  medical psychology  medical ethics  ……

Clinical Medical Courses  diagnostics  general surgery  internal medicine  obstetrics and gynecology  pediatrics  medical imageology  nursing science …………

Features of Medical English Literatures  Style  Grammar  Medical Terminology

Features of Medical English Literatures  Style: 1. objective 2. rigorous structure 3. tight logical relations

Features of Medical English Literatures GGrammar 1. long sentences 2. passive voice 3. it-sentence structure 4. non-finite verbs 5. nominalization

 Medical terminology 1. large number 2. specialized, rarely seen in other fields 3. multiple sources, mainly from Greek and Latin 4. fixed and precise meanings 5. difficult pronunciation

Example  (1) Unusual bleeding and the growth of lumps in the womb are the two special signs of cancer of the womb.  (2) Abnormal hemorrhage and tumorous enlargement of the uterus are the two characteristic features of carcinoma of the endometrium.