Medicine Glossary

Hi! My name is Adam and this is my medicine glossary. Medicine is the science or practice of the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. This glossary will include approximately 20 medical terms defined by Google that are important to understand if the medical world interests you. I hope this glossary can help people with some questions they have about medicine!

stethoscope

noun

A medical instrument for listening to the action of someone's heart or breathing, typically having a small disk-shaped resonator that is placed against the chest, and two tubes connected to earpieces.

Example: This doctor will examine this patient's heart with his stethoscope.

fr: stéthoscope

examine

verb

Inspect (someone or something) in detail to determine their nature or condition.

Example: He was examined by several doctors, who found nothing wrong with him.

fr: examiner

oncologist

noun

A medical practitioner qualified to diagnose and treat tumors.

Example: Referral to an oncologist for chemo- or radiotherapy was not indicated in this case - radiotherapy is primarily reserved for unresectable rectal tumors, whilst chemotherapy would be unsuitable for a patient in his late seventies.

fr: oncologiste

surgery

noun

The treatment of injuries or disorders of the body by incision or manipulation, especially with instruments.

Example: One healthy tube will remain, so it will hopefully still be possible to conceive after this operation, although this is not always the case. Prior to the surgery, the blood was cross-matched and ready for transfusion.

fr: chirurgie

scalpel

noun

A knife with a small, sharp, sometimes detachable blade, as used by a surgeon.

Example: It displays the phenomenology of a trowel, a scalpel and other instruments.

fr: scalpel

coagulation

noun

The action or process of a liquid, especially blood, changing to a solid or semi-solid state.

Example: This is a point-of-care test for coagulation currently in use in cardiothoracic surgery and intensive care in the hospital in which I work, and which is increasingly being asked for by anesthetists during other types of surgery, such as aortic aneurysm repair, radical neck dissection with insertion of free flap and other surgery with the potential for large blood losses or homeostatic disturbance.

fr: coagulation

fracture

noun

A crack or break in a hard object or material, typically a bone.

Example: In this case the mother and the stepfather of the child were charged of manslaughter of the child who died of brain fracture.

fr: fracture

surgical mask

adjective and noun

A loose-fitting, disposable device that creates a physical barrier between the mouth and nose of the wearer and potential contaminants in the immediate environment.

Example: For every surgery, the surgeon has to wear a surgical mask.

fr: masque chirurgical

regulate

verb

Control or maintain the rate or speed of a metabolism in the body.

Example: There are two types of oestrogen surface receptors, both of which are believed to regulate cell growth within breast tissue.

fr: régulariser

cancer

noun

A disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in a part of the body.

Example: Many studies around the world relate the use of pesticides to many diseases, such as leukemia, brain, kidney pancreatic and prostate cancer and show that especially children are in greater risk.

fr: cancer

virus

name

An infective agent that typically consists of a nucleic acid molecule in a protein coat, is too small to be seen by light microscopy, and is able to multiply only within the living cells of a host.

Example: They should be informed about receiving the pneumococcal and yearly influenza virus vaccines.

fr: virus

radiology

noun

Practice dealing with X-rays and other high-energy radiation, especially the use of such radiation for the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

Example: The radiology shows loss of joint space, subchondral sclerosis and cysts, marginal osteophytes.

fr: radiologie

cast

noun

A bandage stiffened with plaster of Paris, molded to the shape of a limb that is broken, and used to support and protect it.

Example: Her mobility has continued to improve and an orthopedic consultation had been arranged in order to discuss removal of the plaster cast.

fr: plâtre

anesthesia

noun

Insensitivity to pain, especially as artificially induced by the administration of gases or the injection of drugs before surgical operations.

Example: Operative treatment under general anesthesia is required for approximately 4-5% of paediatric fractures.

fr: anesthésie

embolism

noun

Obstruction of an artery, typically by a clot of blood or an air bubble.

Example: Although clinically it is difficult to determine the precise cause for a thrombo-embolic event, some features of the history can be used to help differentiate between embolism and thrombosis.

fr: embolie

pulmonary

adjective

Relating to the lungs.

Example: These include the pulmonary vein and thoracic aorta, and thus effective treatments are inevitably highly sought after and rapidly administered.

fr: pulmonaire

biopsy

noun

An examination of tissue removed from a living body to discover the presence, cause, or extent of a disease.

Example: As well as amniocentesis and CVS placental biopsy and fetal blood sampling can be done at about 18 weeks.

fr: biopsie

drugs

noun

A medicine or other substance which has a physiological effect when ingested or otherwise introduced into the body.

Example: Due to our current understanding of these types of disorders, many doctors would now advise their patients to take serotonergic drugs, such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, fluvoxamine and citalopram, which inhibit serotonin re-uptake.

fr: médicaments

allergy

noun

A damaging immune response by the body to a substance, especially pollen, fur, a particular food, or dust, to which it has become hypersensitive.

Example: Susie had a strong allergy to medical tape and plasters; this made Susie a 'special' case straight away as preparations needed to be altered to work around her allergy.

fr: allergy

intravenous

adjective

Existing or taking place within, or administered into, a vein or veins.

Example: Intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis, usually a first-generation cephalosporin, should be initiated.

fr: intraveineux

paraplegic

adjective

Affected by or relating to paralysis of the legs and lower body.

Example: Researchers hope the treatment might enable paraplegics to walk again.

fr: paraplégique

reflex

noun

An action that is performed as a response to a stimulus and without conscious thought.

Example: Moderate muscle spasm may result as a reflex response to both ligamentous capsular injuries and muscle injuries.

fr: réflexe

This glossary was made with the Virtual Writing Tutor glossary maker and grammar checker.