latin...is it useful?

[phatsebz]

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hey everyone i was thinking about taking Latin courses during my undergrad in addition to spanish because i know scientific nomenclature is typically in latin or is derived from latin.....have any of you found knowledge of latin useful during med school?

 

[Primate]

Yes, but more importantly it lets you be even more pretentious than the next doc! Imagine your good fortune when you get to correct an attending on their use of a medical term (BIG wink and a grin).

Seriously, I think Latin may be A LITTLE useful at best in med school/medicine. Take it if you're interested in the classics (which is an excellent reason to do so, IMO). Otherwise, you'd be better served taking courses in which you're interested. As a romance language, Spanish is derived from Latin and will provide exposure to many of the same routes, etc.

Have fun (please).

P

 

[Winged Scapula]

I suppose if you were really interested it might be worth taking the course, but most people pick up the Latin derivations of medical terminology relatively easily.

If it were me, I'd use the time to take something I'd really enjoy.

 

[cheech10]

Latin can be useful when it comes to memorizing lists, as the derivation can help with the definition of the word. Greek is also useful. I would not recommend a course in Latin though, since all the grammar one would learn would be wasted, and you'd miss out on half the root words that are derived from greek. My school had a course in greek and latin for scientific terminology; essentially it focused on root words, identifying them, synthesizing terms with them, and explaining how the derivation helps show you the definition. No grammar was taught. I really enjoyed this course, and we covered way more root words than the latin courses, so I found it way more useful.

 

[tofurious]

I think Spanish is probably more useful as more and more patients present to clinics only speaking Spanish. I haven't run into anyone speaking only Greek or Latin yet...

 

[starayamoskva]

Have you considered a medical terminology course as an alternative to latin?
A bit less pretentious and a lot more useful.

 

[Primate]

Originally posted by tofurious
I haven't run into anyone speaking only Greek or Latin yet...

Priceless

 

[mary]

My mom (ob/gyn) took latin before med school and always told me it was a waste. I agree w/ her, but wish I had spent 5 years on spanish instead of french...oh well!

 

[Soleil9]

I am *nearly* fluent in French and I find it very useful when I come across medical terms I haven't seen before. I can often figure out/ guess the definition. Just another resource that I have in addition to English! I bet spanish would help simularily- and would be more interesting than Latin grammar!

*Soleil*

 

[leorl]

I have a classics degree and studied latin for about 8 years. It's not really all that useful. What it does is makes you used to memorizing very foreign-sounding names rather quickly, but it's not essential. You learn little things...for instance, the sartorius muscle you remember is the "sitting with one leg crossed over the other knee" position b/c sartorius in latin means "tailor" . Or muscles dealing with thumb action commonly use "pollicis" or "pollux" because in the myth of two giant twin brothers, Castor and Pollux, pollux was the boxer. It just gives you a little background info, but isn't necessary.

 

[doc05]

Latin is useful....about as useful as a parka in Tahiti.

 

[Tazmaniac]

Never, ever, listen to your high school guidance counselor. Latin is for purely academic pompousness and Trivia Pursuit. Learn some Spanish.

-Todd MS IV

 

[doc05]

Originally posted by woolie
I thought Latin was a good preparation for the science courses I later took; I was also a Latin major and studied it also for 8 years (including a master's) - ok, I really really, liked it alot!

Now when it comes to warehouse amounts of knowledge I find that I have already mentally created these shelves in my brain and I just open the door and start sorting the new knowledge into it's new file drawers. What I might not be describing so well is that aqcuiring new languages - including chemistry and physics - is easier now for me because of this mental template already set down.
B]

let's not exaggerate things. I never studied latin or greek. heck I can barely read my native language (English)...but I somehow got threw all the science courses and am having a load of fun in medical school.

the OP is better off taking an art class where you get to draw naked women.

 

[Jaded Soul]

Originally posted by Tazmaniac
Never, ever, listen to your high school guidance counselor.

Truer words were never spoken (or written).

 

[Firebird]

Hey my dad is a high school guidance counselor!