Theme: iWiki Log in Register

Diff: Common Medical Terms

Comparing revision #1 (2023-06-12 17:05:43) with revision #2 (2026-06-22 13:56:13).

Old	New
This wiki page provides an overview of common medical terms frequently encountered in healthcare settings. Understanding these terms can aid in effective communication between healthcare professionals and patients, as well as facilitate a better understanding of medical documentation and discussions.

== A ==

* Anaesthesia: The administration of medications to induce a loss of sensation or consciousness during medical procedures.
* Antibiotic: Medications used to treat bacterial infections by inhibiting the growth or destroying bacteria.
* Arthritis: Inflammation of one or more joints, causing pain, stiffness, and swelling.

== B ==

* Biopsy: The removal and examination of a small sample of tissue from the body for diagnostic purposes.
* Blood Pressure: The force exerted by the blood against the walls of blood vessels, typically measured using two values: systolic (when the heart contracts) and diastolic (when the heart is at rest).

== C ==

* Cardiovascular: Relating to the heart and blood vessels.
* Cholesterol: A fatty substance found in the blood, necessary for the body's proper functioning, but high levels can increase the risk of heart disease.
* CT Scan: Computed Tomography scan, a diagnostic imaging technique that uses X-rays to create cross-sectional images of the body.

== D ==

* Diabetes: A chronic condition characterized by high blood sugar levels, caused by the body's inability to produce or properly use insulin.
* Diagnosis: The identification of a disease or condition based on its signs, symptoms, and medical tests.
* Dose: The specific amount of medication prescribed to be taken at a given time.

== E ==

* EKG/ECG: Electrocardiogram, a test that records the electrical activity of the heart.
* Endoscopy: A procedure that uses a flexible tube with a camera to visualize the inside of a body cavity or organ.
* Epidemic: The rapid spread of an infectious disease within a specific population or geographic area.

== F ==

* Fever: A temporary increase in body temperature, often associated with an underlying infection or illness.
* Fracture: A break or crack in a bone.
* Fungal Infection: An infection caused by a fungus, commonly affecting the skin, nails, or mucous membranes.

== G ==

* Gastroenteritis: Inflammation of the stomach and intestines, usually resulting in symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
* Genetics: The study of genes and heredity, including how traits and diseases are passed down from parents to offspring.
* Glucose: A sugar that serves as the primary source of energy for the body's cells.

== H ==

* Hypertension: High blood pressure, a condition characterized by elevated pressure in the arteries.
* Hypoglycaemia: Low blood sugar levels, often associated with diabetes or certain medications.
* Hypothyroidism: A condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone, leading to various symptoms.

== I ==

* Immunization: The process of administering vaccines to stimulate the body's immune system to develop immunity against specific diseases.
* Inflammation: The body's response to injury or infection, characterized by redness, swelling, heat, and pain in the affected area.
* Influenza: A contagious respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus, commonly known as the flu.

== J ==

* Jaundice: A yellowing of the skin and eyes due to a build-up of bilirubin, a yellow pigment produced during the breakdown of red blood cells.
* Joint: The point where two bones meet, allowing movement and flexibility.

== K ==

* Kidney: A pair of organs responsible for filtering waste products from the blood and producing urine.
* Knee: A joint that connects the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia), allowing for movement and support.

== L ==

* Lung: The main organ of the respiratory system responsible for exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide during breathing.
* Lymph Nodes: Small, bean-shaped structures distributed throughout the body that filter lymph fluid and help fight infections.

== M ==

* Mammogram: An X-ray of the breast used for screening and detecting breast abnormalities, including tumours.
* MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging, a diagnostic imaging technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of the body's internal structures.
* Metabolism: The chemical processes that occur within an organism to convert food into energy.

== N ==

* Nausea: A feeling of discomfort or unease in the stomach, often preceding vomiting.
* Neurology: The branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of disorders affecting the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.
* Nutrition: The process of obtaining and utilizing nutrients from food for growth, development, and maintaining overall health.

== O ==

* Obesity: A medical condition characterized by excessive body weight and an accumulation of fat, often associated with various health risks.
* Oncology: The branch of medicine focused on the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
* Orthopaedics: The branch of medicine that deals with the prevention and correction of injuries and disorders affecting the musculoskeletal system.

== P ==

* Pneumonia: Inflammation of the air sacs in one or both lungs, commonly caused by an infection.
* Prescription: A written order from a healthcare professional authorizing the dispensing and administration of a specific medication.
* Psychiatry: The branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental, emotional, and behavioural disorders.

== Q ==

* Quarantine: A period of isolation or restriction of movement imposed on individuals who may have been exposed to a contagious disease to prevent its spread.

== R ==

* Radiation Therapy: The use of high-energy radiation, such as X-rays or protons, to destroy or shrink cancer cells.
* Respiratory: Relating to the organs and processes involved in breathing and the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
* Risk Factor: Any factor that increases the likelihood of developing a particular disease or condition.
	'''Common medical terms''' are words and abbreviations often used in clinical notes, appointment letters, test results, prescriptions, and patient information. Some terms are plain English, while others come from Latin, Greek, anatomy, pathology, or older clinical shorthand.

== S ==
	Medical language is meant to be precise, but it can be difficult to read when it appears without context. A single word may have a narrow technical meaning in one setting and a wider everyday meaning in another. For example, "acute" usually means sudden or short-term in medicine, not necessarily severe. "Chronic" usually means long-lasting, not automatically serious.

* Stroke: A sudden interruption of blood flow to the brain, leading to brain damage and potential disability.
* Surgery: The medical specialty that involves operative procedures to treat diseases, injuries, or deformities through incisions and manipulations of body tissues.
* Symptom: Subjective evidence of a disease or condition experienced by the patient, often reported as changes in body function or sensation.
	== How Medical Terms Are Built ==
	Many medical words are made from a root, prefix, and suffix.

== T ==
	* '''Root''': the main subject of the word, such as cardi for heart or derm for skin.
	* '''Prefix''': a part added at the start, such as hyper for high or hypo for low.
	* '''Suffix''': a part added at the end, such as itis for inflammation or ectomy for surgical removal.

* Tumour: An abnormal growth of cells that forms a mass or lump, which can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
* Therapy: The treatment or management of a disease or condition, often involving medical interventions or rehabilitation techniques.
* Transplantation: The transfer of an organ, tissue, or cells from one person (donor) to another (recipient) for therapeutic purposes.
	This structure helps readers break down unfamiliar words. "Dermatitis" refers to inflammation of the skin. "Hypoglycaemia" refers to low blood glucose. "Tachycardia" refers to an unusually fast heart rate.

== U ==
	== General Clinical Words ==
	* '''Acute''': starting suddenly or lasting for a short time.
	* '''Chronic''': lasting for a long time or recurring over time.
	* '''Diagnosis''': the identification of a condition from symptoms, examination, tests, and clinical judgement.
	* '''Differential diagnosis''': a list of possible conditions that could explain a person's symptoms.
	* '''Prognosis''': the expected course or likely outcome of a condition.
	* '''Symptom''': something a person notices or feels, such as pain, dizziness, or nausea.
	* '''Sign''': something observed or measured by another person, such as a rash, fever, swelling, or high blood pressure.
	* '''Risk factor''': something that raises the chance of a condition developing.
	* '''Screening''': testing people who do not necessarily have symptoms, usually to find early disease or increased risk.

* Ultrasound: A diagnostic imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of internal structures in the body.
* Urology: The branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the urinary tract in both males and females, as well as the male reproductive system.
	== Tests and Investigations ==
	* '''Blood pressure''': the force of blood against artery walls, usually recorded as systolic pressure over diastolic pressure.
	* '''Biopsy''': removal of a small tissue sample so it can be examined.
	* '''CT scan''': computed tomography, an imaging test that uses X-rays and computer processing to show cross-sectional images.
	* '''ECG''': electrocardiogram, a test that records the electrical activity of the heart.
	* '''Endoscopy''': examination of the inside of the body using a thin instrument with a light and camera.
	* '''MRI''': magnetic resonance imaging, which uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images.
	* '''Ultrasound''': imaging that uses high-frequency sound waves.
	* '''X-ray''': imaging that uses a controlled dose of radiation to show bones and some internal structures.

== V ==
	== Body Systems ==
	* '''Cardiovascular''': relating to the heart and blood vessels.
	* '''Gastrointestinal''': relating to the stomach, intestines, and wider digestive system.
	* '''Neurological''': relating to the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.
	* '''Respiratory''': relating to breathing and the lungs.
	* '''Renal''': relating to the kidneys.
	* '''Urological''': relating to the urinary system and, in some contexts, male reproductive organs.
	* '''Musculoskeletal''': relating to muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons.

* Vaccine: A biological preparation that stimulates the immune system to produce an acquired immunity to a specific disease.
* Virus: A microscopic infectious agent that can replicate only inside the cells of a living organism, often causing various diseases.
	== Conditions and Symptoms ==
	* '''Anaemia''': a reduced amount of haemoglobin or red blood cells, which can cause tiredness, breathlessness, or paleness.
	* '''Arthritis''': joint inflammation or joint disease, often causing pain, stiffness, or swelling.
	* '''Diabetes''': a group of conditions involving high blood glucose because insulin is absent, reduced, or not working properly.
	* '''Fever''': a raised body temperature, often linked to infection or inflammation.
	* '''Fracture''': a break or crack in a bone.
	* '''Hypertension''': high blood pressure.
	* '''Hypoglycaemia''': low blood glucose.
	* '''Inflammation''': the body's response to injury, irritation, or infection, often involving heat, redness, swelling, pain, or loss of function.
	* '''Jaundice''': yellowing of the skin or eyes caused by raised bilirubin.
	* '''Pneumonia''': infection or inflammation affecting the air sacs of the lungs.
	* '''Stroke''': brain injury caused by interrupted blood supply or bleeding in or around the brain.
	* '''Tumour''': an abnormal mass of tissue. Tumours may be benign or malignant.

== W ==
	== Treatments and Care ==
	* '''Anaesthesia''': medicines or techniques used to reduce sensation, pain, awareness, or movement during a procedure.
	* '''Antibiotic''': a medicine used to treat bacterial infection. Antibiotics do not treat viral infections such as colds or flu.
	* '''Dose''': the amount of a medicine given at one time or over a defined period.
	* '''Prescription''': a written or electronic instruction for a medicine or treatment.
	* '''Radiotherapy''': treatment that uses controlled radiation, often to treat cancer.
	* '''Surgery''': treatment by operation.
	* '''Therapy''': treatment, support, rehabilitation, or counselling intended to improve symptoms, function, or health.
	* '''Transplantation''': transfer of an organ, tissue, or cells from one person or part of the body to another.
	* '''Vaccine''': a preparation that trains the immune system to recognise a disease-causing organism or toxin.

* Wound: An injury to the skin or underlying tissues, often resulting in a break in the skin's integrity.
* X-ray: A form of electromagnetic radiation used in diagnostic imaging to produce images of internal structures by passing through the body and being absorbed to varying degrees.
	== Abbreviations ==
	Medical abbreviations can be convenient, but they are also easy to misunderstand. The same letters can mean different things in different services. Common examples include:

== Y ==
	* '''BP''': blood pressure.
	* '''BMI''': body mass index.
	* '''CBC''': complete blood count, more often called a full blood count in the UK.
	* '''ECG''': electrocardiogram.
	* '''GP''': general practitioner.
	* '''Hb''': haemoglobin.
	* '''NAD''': no abnormality detected, depending on context.
	* '''OTC''': over the counter.
	* '''SOB''': shortness of breath, depending on context.

* Yellow Fever: A viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, causing fever, jaundice, and internal bleeding, potentially leading to severe illness or death.
* Yeast Infection: An infection caused by a fungus called Candida, commonly affecting the skin, mouth, throat, or genital areas.
	When abbreviations appear in a record, the safest reading is the one that matches the clinical context around it.

== Z ==
	== See Also ==
	* [[Pharmacology]]
	* [[Cancer]]
	* [[Osteoarthritis]]
	* [[Vitamin_C]]

* Zoonosis: A disease or infection that can be transmitted between animals and humans.
	== References ==
	* [https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/help/abbreviations-commonly-found-in-medical-records/ NHS: Abbreviations in the NHS App]
	* [https://medlineplus.gov/medwords/medicalwords.html MedlinePlus: Understanding Medical Words Tutorial]
	* [https://medlineplus.gov/definitions/index.html MedlinePlus: Definitions of Health Terms]
	* [https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/ NCI: Dictionary of Cancer Terms]
	* [https://www.rcog.org.uk/for-the-public/a-z-of-medical-terms/ RCOG: A-Z of medical terms]

Note: This wiki page provides an overview of common medical terms. It is advisable to consult medical professionals or trusted sources for in-depth information and clarification on specific medical terms and conditions.
	[[Category:Medicine]]
	[[Category:Glossaries]]