Final answer:
The primary purpose of the family medical history is to discover hereditary and familial diseases by providing insights into possible genetic disorders and an individual's predisposition to certain conditions.b. To discover hereditary and familial diseases
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary purpose of the family medical history is b. To discover hereditary and familial diseases. This is because family medical history provides insight into the conditions that a person may be at increased risk for, based on the health issues that have been diagnosed in family members, particularly across generations. It's an essential tool for identifying potential genetic disorders, predicting disease predisposition, and understanding one's ancestry and genetic origin. In medicine, geneticists use pedigree analysis to trace the inheritance pattern of diseases. Moreover, genomics can help determine the risk that an individual's children might inherit genetic diseases. Although not listed as an option in the question, it also facilitates personalized medicine by indicating how an individual may react to certain medications.