TYPOLOGY AND FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF EPONYMS IN ENGLISH MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

Abstract

In modern medical communication, terminology functions as a specialized linguistic system designed to ensure precision and clarity in the description of anatomical structures, physiological processes, pathological conditions, and therapeutic procedures. Within this framework, eponyms occupy a significant place as lexical units derived from proper names of individuals, places, ethnic groups, animals, or mythological figures, denoting diseases, syndromes, anatomical structures, diagnostic tests, surgical operations, instruments, and medical treatments. The article investigates the phenomenon of eponyms in English medical terminology, focusing on their typology and functional classification. The study provides a systematic analysis of eponyms according to their nominative origin, including anthroponyms, autoeponyms, ethnonyms, toponyms, hydronyms, zoonyms, poetonyms, mythonyms, biblical eponyms, etc., as well as their functional roles in medicine, such as designating diseases, clinical signs and symptoms, syndromes, diagnostic tests, medical treatments, surgical procedures, instruments or devices, and even elements of human anatomy. Morphosyntactic patterns and orthographic conventions, including the use of possessive forms, are examined to identify regularities and variations in usage. The research combines corpus-based analysis with descriptive and classificatory approaches to reveal structural, semantic, and functional heterogeneity of medical eponyms. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the integration of eponymous terms in medical discourse and provide practical recommendations for medical scholars, terminologists, and English for Specific Purposes (ESP) educators concerning standardization, teaching, and effective use of eponyms in professional and academic contexts.