Talking about Medicine: English Vocabulary List

the identification of the nature and cause of an illness or other problem

"The doctor made a swift diagnosis of acute appendicitis."

"A differential diagnosis is a systematic method of weighing the probability of one disease versus other diseases that could account for a patient's presenting illness."

a professional opinion regarding the likely course of an illness

"The prognosis was grim."

"the long-term prognosis is very good."

a piece of cloth that is put around a wound to prevent infections

"Put on a bandage."

"A compression bandage is a stretchy"

the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drugs and their effects on living organisms

"Pharmacology studies how a specific drug interacts with a living organism."

"She decided to study pharmacology because she wanted to understand how different medications affect the human body."

the clear, yellowish fluid component of blood that remains after clotting, containing water, electrolytes, antibodies, and various proteins

"The serum was tested."

"The patient was injected with an antivenom serum after being bitten by a highly poisonous snake in the jungle."

a prescribed amount of medicine that is taken regularly

"Take the correct dosage every day."

"The doctor prescribed a daily dosage of fifty milligrams which must be taken with food."

the branch of pharmacology that focuses on the harmful effects of chemical, biological, and physical agents on people, animals, and the environment

"The toxicology report confirmed the presence of arsenic in the victim's body."

"The toxicology department tested the river water to determine whether industrial chemicals had contaminated it."

an image of the inside of a body created using X-rays

"The X-ray showed a clear fracture in the patient's left forearm."

"The doctor ordered an X-ray to get a clear image of the broken bone in the patient's leg."

the harmful effects or potential for harm caused by a substance to living organisms or the environment

"The heavy metals leached into the water have high toxicity to fish."

"Oxygen toxicity is a serious condition resulting from the harmful effects of breathing in molecular oxygen at dangerously elevated partial pressures for too long."

a technique in which a powerful magnetic field is used to produce detailed images of areas inside the body

"The magnetic resonance imaging scan was clear."

"The hospital uses magnetic resonance imaging to diagnose a wide range of medical conditions with great precision."

a medical examination during which a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body is created by the use of a computer linked to an X-ray machine

"The CT scan provided a detailed cross-sectional view of the patient's lung."

"A CT scan combines a series of X-ray images taken from different angles to create a cross-sectional"

the branch of pharmacology focusing on the dosages of medicines and drugs

"Posology studies drug dosages."

"Understanding posology is crucial for determining the correct and safe amount of medication."

the branch of medicine that focuses on the healthcare of elderly people

"The hospital has a specialist ward for geriatrics and frail elderly care."

"Geriatrics is the branch of medicine focused exclusively on the health care and complex needs of elderly"

the branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of syphilis

"Syphilology treats syphilis."

"The historical text discussed the advancements made in syphilology during the early twentieth century."

any organic compound derived from barbituric acid that is used as a sedative and greatly reduces the activity of the nervous system

"A barbiturate calms nerves."

"The patient was given a mild barbiturate to help alleviate their severe insomnia."

a medication that reduces heart rate and blood pressure by blocking the effects of adrenaline

"Beta blocker lowers heart rate."

"The cardiologist prescribed a beta blocker to help control the patient's high blood pressure."

a medicine without any physiological effect that is given to a control group in an experiment to measure the effectiveness of a new drug or to patients who think they need medicine when in reality they do not

"The placebo had no effect."

"During the clinical trial, some participants received the actual drug while others were given a placebo."

a method of treatment in which thin needles are inserted in specific spots on the body, originated in China

"Acupuncture involves inserting thin needles at specific points on the body."

"Many people turn to acupuncture as a natural alternative to conventional pain relief treatments."