My name is Eya and I have been studying health sciences for about one year to hopefully become a doctor. This glossary contains 20 words used by doctors and medical staff. Whether you are a medical student or simply someone interested in the medical field, this glossary can help you better understand common medical terminology and it provides a clear definition of the terms. The definitions were found on credible online sources like Wikipedia and simplified to make them easier to understand. You can refer to this glossary when you encounter unfamiliar medical language.
anesthesia
noun
Insensitivity to pain, especially as artificially induced by the administration of gases or the injection of drugs before surgical operations.
Example: The patient was given ANESTHESIA before the surgery to ensure they would feel no pain during the procedure.
fr: anesthésie
check-up
noun
A medical examination to test your general state of health.
Example: She goes to her doctor for regular CHECK-UPS.
fr: check-up
consultation
noun
A meeting with an expert or professional, such as a medical doctor, in order to seek advice.
Example: During the consultation, the doctor carefully listened to the patient's concerns.
fr: consultation
cure
verb
Relieve (a person or animal) of the symptoms of a disease or condition.
Example: The doctor worked to find a treatment that could cure the patient.
fr: guérir
diagnosis
noun
The identification of the nature of an illness or other problem by examination of the symptoms.
Example: Historically in psychiatry, assessment and treatment has been the domain of doctors who have identified symptoms, made a DIAGNOSIS and treated the client with medication
fr: diagnostic
immunotherapy
noun
The prevention or treatment of disease with substances that stimulate the immune response.
Example: Early clinical trials have highlighted the promise of IMMUNOTHERAPY as an additional major therapeutic modality for breast cancer, with the potential for breast cancer prevention as well as treatment.
fr: immunothérapie
medication
noun
A substance used for medical treatment, especially a medicine or drug.
Example: The nurse was keen to give him his morning medication.
fr: médicament
ophthalmoscope
noun
An instrument for inspecting the retina and other parts of the eye.
Example: The doctor used an OPHTHALMOSCOPE to examine the patient's retina and evaluate their eye health.
fr: ophtalmoscope
otoscope
noun
An instrument designed for visual examination of the eardrum and the passage of the outer ear, typically having a light and a set of lenses.
Example: Routine clinical examination has a place, but mainly in the detection of ear infections and cerumen via an OTOSCOPE.
fr: otoscope
patient
noun
A person receiving or registered to receive medical treatment.
Example: The use of hypodermic needles is a common choice however this procedure can cause significant pain to the patient.
fr: patient
prescription
noun
An instruction written by a medical practitioner that authorizes a patient to be provided a medicine or treatment.
Example: There are currently online prescription sites where one can self diagnose, find the 'right' treatment and then get a prescription without seeing a doctor once.
fr: ordonnance
reflex hammer
noun
A reflex hammer is a medical instrument used by practitioners to test deep tendon reflexes.
Example: The doctor used a REFLEX HAMMER to test the patient's knee-jerk response during the neurological examination.
fr: marteau à réflexes
sphygmomanometer
noun
An instrument for measuring blood pressure, typically consisting of an inflatable rubber cuff which is applied to the arm and connected to a column of mercury next to a graduated scale, enabling the determination of systolic and diastolic blood pressure by increasing and gradually releasing the pressure in the cuff.
Example: The doctor used a SPHYGMOMANOMETER to check the patient's blood pressure as part of the examination.
fr: sphygmomanomètre
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: The doctor used a STETHOSCOPE to listen to the patient's heartbeat and breathing.
fr: stéthoscope
surgery
noun
The branch of medical practice that treats injuries, diseases, and deformities by the physical removal, repair, or readjustment of organs and tissues, often involving cutting into the body.
Example: Extreme cases of CD require SURGERY to remove part of the bowel.
fr: chirurgie
symptoms
noun
A physical or mental feature which is regarded as indicating a condition of disease, particularly such a feature that is apparent to the patient.
Example: Initial symptoms include intestinal disorders, high fever, chills and muscle aches, which are closely followed by pneumonia.
fr: symptômes
thermometer
noun
An instrument for measuring and indicating temperature, typically one consisting of a narrow, hermetically sealed glass tube marked with graduations and having at one end a bulb containing mercury or alcohol that expands and contracts in the tube with heating and cooling.
Example: The doctor used a THERMOMETER to check the patient's temperature.
fr: thermomètre
treatment
noun
Medical care given to a patient for an illness or injury.
Example: At present the well-established treatment for diabetes, the use of exogenous insulin, is very effective and safe.
fr: traitement
vaccination
noun
Treatment with a vaccine to produce immunity to a particular infectious disease or pathogen.
Example: It is thought that a VACCINATION alone would not be sufficient in controlling the disease.
fr: vaccination
x-ray
noun
A photographic or digital image of the internal composition of something, especially a part of the body, produced by X-rays being passed through it and being absorbed to different degrees by different materials.
Example: The doctor ordered an X-RAY to check for any broken bones after the incident.
