HOW TO TALK ABOUT DOCTORS
Preview
1. Gynaecologist
2. Obstetrician
3. Paediatrician
4. Dermatologist
5. Ophthalmologist
6. Orthopaedist
7. Cardiologist
8. Neurologist
9. Psychiatrist
Types of Medical Specialists
1. Gynaecologist Female ailments
2. Obstetrician Delivers babies
3. Paediatrician Children & related diseases
4. Dermatologist Skin specialist
5. Ophthalmologist Eye specialist
6. Orthopaedist Bones, skeleton, spine
7. Cardiologist Heart & related disorders
8. Neurologist Brain, spinal cord, nervous system
9. Psychiatrist Mental & emotional disorders
Origins & Related Words
GYNAECOLOGIST
• Greek: Gyne + logy
• Gyne = Woman
• Logy = Study
• Gynaecology
• Adj. Gynaecological
OBSTETRICIAN
• Latin: Obstetrix
• Obstetrix = Midwife
• -ician (suffix) = Expert
• Obstetrics
• Adj. Obstetric
PAEDIATRICIAN
• Greek: Paidos + iatreia
• Paidos = Child
• Iatreia = Medical healing
• Paediatrics
• Adj. Paediatric
Geriatrician
• Geras + iatreia
• Geras = Old age
• Iatreia = Medical healing
• Health & care of elderly
people
Words derived from ‘paidos’ • Paidos + agogos
Pedagogy Method or principles of • Paidos = Child
teaching • Agogos = Leader
Pedagogue Teacher
Derived from ‘agogos’ • Demos + agogos
Demagogue A leader who uses his political • Demos = People
powers for his own selfish gains • Agogos = Leader
DERMATOLOGIST
• Greek: Derma
• Derma = Skin
• Dermatology
• Adj. Dermatological
Words derived from ‘derma’
Epidermis Outer layer of skin
Hypodermis Bottom layer of skin
Dermatitis Skin irritation, inflammation or
infection
Taxidermist A person who prepares, stuffs and
mounts the skins of animals
Pachyderm A thick-skinned mammal (e.g.,
(PAK'-i-dərm) elephant, rhinoceros, hippopotamus)
Words derived from ‘derma’
Epidermis Outer layer of skin
Hypodermis Bottom layer of skin
Dermatitis Skin irritation, inflammation or
infection
Taxidermist A person who prepares, stuffs and
mounts the skins of animals
Pachyderm A thick-skinned mammal (e.g.,
(PAK'-i-dərm) elephant, rhinoceros, hippopotamus)
OPHTHALMOLOGIST
off-thal-MOL'-ə-jist
• Greek: Ophthalmos
• Ophthalmos = Eye
• Ophthalmology
• Adj. Ophthalmological
Earlier
Oculist Eye (Latin)
Title
Words derived from ‘oculist’
Ocular Adjective that refers to the eye
Monocle A lens for one eye
Binoculars Field glasses
Inoculate To vaccinate or immunize
Words derived from ‘oculist’
Ocular Adjective that refers to the eye
Monocle A lens for one eye
Binoculars Field glasses
Inoculate To vaccinate or immunize
Optometrist
• Greek: Optikos + metron
• Optikos = Vision
• Metron = Measurement
• Measures vision, tests for
glaucoma, prescribes &
fits glasses
• NOT a doctor
Optician
• Greek: Optikos
• Optikos = Vision
• Fills prescription
• Dispenses glasses and
contact lenses
• NOT a doctor
a. Principles of teaching
1. Gynaecology b. Specialty dealing with medical problems of
2. Obstetrics the elderly
3. Paediatrics c. Specialty dealing with the delivery of
4. Geriatrics infants
5. Pedagogy d. Stirring up discontent among the masses
6. Demagoguery e. Treatment of skin diseases
7. Dermatology f. Specialty dealing with women’s diseases
8. Taxidermy g. Specialty dealing with children’s diseases
h. Stuffing of skins of animals
a. Principles of teaching
1. Gynaecology f b. Specialty dealing with medical problems of
2. Obstetrics c the elderly
3. Paediatrics g c. Specialty dealing with the delivery of
4. Geriatrics b infants
5. Pedagogy a d. Stirring up discontent among the masses
6. Demagoguery d e. Treatment of skin diseases
7. Dermatology e f. Specialty dealing with women’s diseases
8. Taxidermy h g. Specialty dealing with children’s diseases
h. Stuffing of skins of animals
1. Hypodermic a. Eye doctor
2. Epidermis b. Under the skin
3. Pachyderm c. One-lens eyeglass
4. Dermatitis d. Elephant
5. Ophthalmologist e. Outer layer of skin
6. Optometrist f. Inflammation of the skin
7. Monocle g. One who measures vision
1. Hypodermic b a. Eye doctor
2. Epidermis e b. Under the skin
3. Pachyderm d c. One-lens eyeglass
4. Dermatitis f d. Elephant
5. Ophthalmologist a e. Outer layer of skin
6. Optometrist g f. Inflammation of the skin
7. Monocle c g. One who measures vision
ORTHOPAEDIST
• Greek: Orthos + Paidos
• Orthos = Straight /Correct
• Paidos = Child
• Straightening of spine
• Orthopaedics
• Adj. Orthopaedic
Orthodontist
• Greek: Orthos + odontos
• Orthos = Straight
• Odontos = Tooth
• Straightening of teeth
• Orthodontics
• Adj. Orthodontic
CARDIOLOGIST
• Greek: Kardia
• Kardia = Heart
• Cardiology
• Adj. Cardiological
Words derived from ‘kardia’
Cardiac Condition relating to malfunctioning of the heart
Cardiogram Electronically produced record of heartbeat
Cardiograph Instrument that records heartbeat
NEUROLOGIST
• Greek: Neuron
• Neuron = Nerve
• Neurology
• Adj. Neurological
Words derived from ‘neuron’
Neuralgia • Neuron + algos (pain)
• Pain caused by damaged or irritated nerves
Neuritis • Inflammation of nerves
Neurosis • Neuron + osis (suffix = abnormal / diseased)
• Mild mental illness (depression, anxiety, hypochondria, etc.)
PSYCHIATRIST
sī-KĪ-ə-trist
• Greek: Psyche + iatreia
• Psyche = Spirit, soul or mind Psychosis Psyche + osis
• Iatriea = Medical healing (adj.
A full-blown mental
• Psychiatry Psychotic)
disorder
• Adj. Psychiatric
1. Orthopaedics a. Mental unbalance
2. Orthodontics b. Record of heart beats
3. Neuralgia c. Straightening of teeth
4. Neuritis d. Treatment of mental disorders
5. Cardiogram e. Inflammation of the nerves
6. Cardiograph f. Instrument for recording heart beats
7. Neurosis g. Treatment of skeletal deformities
8. Psychosis h. Emotional disturbances
9. Psychiatry i. Nerve pain
1. Orthopaedics g a. Mental unbalance
2. Orthodontics c b. Record of heart beats
3. Neuralgia i c. Straightening of teeth
4. Neuritis e d. Treatment of mental disorders
5. Cardiogram b e. Inflammation of the nerves
6. Cardiograph f f. Instrument for recording heart beats
7. Neurosis h g. Treatment of skeletal deformities
8. Psychosis a h. Emotional disturbances
9. Psychiatry d i. Nerve pain
