BASIC COMMON MEDICAL TERMS

word meaning example sentence

part of speech

abnormal not normal for the This amount of weight loss

adj human body is abnormal for women your
age.

ache pain that won't go I can't sleep because my

noun/verb away knees ache in the night.

acute quick to become We knew the baby was

adj severe/bad coming right away because
the woman's labour pains
were acute.

allergy noun a body's abnormal Your son is

allergic adj reaction to certain extremely allergic to
foods or peanuts.
environmental
substances (eg
causes a rash)

ambulance emergency vehicle We called

noun that rushes people the ambulance when Josh
to a hospital stopped breathing.

amnesia a condition that I can't remember the accident

noun causes people to because I had amnesia.
lose their memory
amputation noun permanent removal We had to amputate his leg
amputate verb of a limb because the infection spread
so quickly.

anaemia noun occurs when the I have low energy because I

anaemic adj body doesn't have am anaemic.
enough red blood
cells

antibiotics medication that My throat infection went away

noun kills bacteria and after I started the antibiotics.
cures infections

anti-depressant medication that The anti-

noun helps relieve depressants helped me get
anxiety and on with life after Lucy died.
sadness

appointment a scheduled I've made you

noun meeting with a an appointment with a
medical specialist in three week's
professional time.

arthritis a disease that My grandmother can't knit

noun causes the joints to anymore because
become swollen the arthritis in her hands is
and crippled so bad.

asthma (attack) a condition that I carry an inhaler when I run

noun causes a blockage because I have asthma.
of the airway and
makes it difficult for
 a person to breathe

bacteria a disease-causing To prevent the spread

noun organism of bacteria it is important that
nurses wash their hands
often.

bedsore wounds that If you don't get up and take a

noun develop on a walk, you will develop
patient's body from painful bedsores.
lying in one place
for too long

benign not harmful (not We're hoping that the tests

adj cancerous) will show that the lump in
your breast is benign.

biopsy removal of human The biopsy ruled out a

noun tissue in order to number of illnesses.
conduct certain
medical tests

blood count the amount of red You will be happy to know

noun and white blood that your blood count is
cells a person has almost back to normal.

blood donor a person who gives Blood donors have to

noun blood to a blood answer questions about their
bank or other medical history.
person

blood pressure the rate at which High blood pressure puts

noun blood flows through you at risk of having a heart
the body (high/low) attack.

brace a device that holds You will probably always

noun injured body parts have to wear a brace on your
in place ankle when you jog.

breech position of an We thought it was going to be

adj unborn baby in a breech birth, but the baby
which the feet are turned himself around.
down and the head
is up

broken a bone that is We thought it was just a

adj divided in two or sprain, but it turned out his
more pieces as a leg was broken.
result of an injury

bruise noun injured body tissue The woman was

bruised adj that is visible badly bruised when she
underneath the came into the emergency
skin room.

Caesarean section, procedure that The baby was so large that

C-section involves removing we had to perform
noun a baby from its a Caesarean section.
mother through an
incision in the
woman's lower
abdomen

cancer disease caused by There are many different

noun the uncontrollable options when it comes to
 growth of cells treating cancer.

cardiopulmonary restoring a You saved your brother's life

resuscitation (CPR) person's breath by performing CPR.
noun and circulation

cast a hard bandage My leg was in a cast for

noun that is wrapped graduation.
around a broken
bone to keep it in
place

chapel, chapeline a place where If you want a place to pray,

noun loved ones can go the chapel is on the third
to pray for a floor.
patient's recovery;
a priest who visits
patients in the
hospital

chemotherapy type of treatment My mother has already had

noun used on cancer three rounds
patients of chemotherapy.

chickenpox a virus commonly It is best to

noun contracted by get chickenpox as a child so
children, that you don't get it worse as
characterized by an adult.
itchy spots all over
the body

coroner a person who We only call the coroner if

noun determines the we think a death is
cause of death
 after a person dies suspicious.

critical condition requiring You can't see her right now;

noun immediate and she's in critical condition.
constant medical
attention

crutches objects that people I'd rather hop on one foot

noun with injured legs or than use crutches.
feet use to help
them walk

cyst a sac in the body- We're going to remove

noun tissue filled with the cysts just to be on the
fluid (sometimes safe side.
diseased)

deaf unable to hear The accident left the patient

adj both deaf and blind.

deficiency a lack of something The tests show that you have

noun necessary for one's an iron deficiency.
health

dehydrated in need of water It is easy for the elderly to

adj become dehydrated in this
heat.

dementia loss of mental It is hard to watch a loved

noun capacity one suffering with dementia.
diabetes type of disease People with diabetes have to
noun typically involving constantly check their blood
insulin deficiency sugar levels.

diagnosis medical The doctor would prefer to

noun explanation of an share the diagnosis with the
illness or condition patient himself.

discomfort experiencing pain This pain medication should

noun relieve some of
your discomfort.

disease a medical disorder I understand that

noun that is harmful to a this disease runs in your
person's health family.

dislocated when a bone is You will have to wear a sling

adj temporarily because of
separated from its your dislocated shoulder.
joint

emergency a medical problem It is important that children

noun that needs know which number to dial in
immediate case of an emergency.
attention

ER (emergency the hospital room The child was rushed into

room) used for treating the ER after he had a severe
noun patients with allergic reaction to a bee
immediate and life- sting.
threatening injuries
external on the outside This cream is
adj for external use only. Do not
get it near your ears, eyes, or
mouth.

false negative a test that We had two false

noun incorrectly comes negative pregnancy tests, so
adj back negative we didn't know we were
having a baby.

family history medical The doctor was concerned

noun background of a about my family history of
person's family skin cancer.
members

fatal causing death The doctor made a fatal error

adj when he wrote the wrong
prescription.

fever noun higher than normal He is very feverish, and his

feverish adj body temperature temperature is near danger
point.

flu (influenza) many types of People who have

noun respiratory or the flu should not visit
intestinal infections hospital patients.
passed on through
a virus

fracture noun broken or cracked Your wrist is fractured and

fractured adj bone needs a cast.
germ a micro-organism, Flowers are not allowed in
noun especially one that the ward to avoid the risk
causes disease of germs being brought in.

genetic a medical condition The disease is

adj or physical feature part genetic and part
that is passed on in environmental.
the family

growth a ball of tissue that That growth on your

noun grows bigger than shoulder is starting to worry
normal, either on or me.
under the skin

heart attack instance in which People who smoke are at

noun blood stops greater risk of having a heart
pumping through attack.
the heart

HIV the virus that HIV can be passed down

noun infects the human from the mother to her fetus.
T-cells and leads to
AIDS

hives bumps that appear I broke out in hives after I ate

noun on the surface of that potato casserole.
the skin during an
allergic reaction

illness noun general term for Her illness went away when
ill adj any condition that she started eating better.
makes a person
feel sick for a
 certain period of
time

immune system the parts of the You can't have visitors

noun body that fight because your immune
diseases, system is low.
infections, and
viruses

immunization noun an injection that Babies are immunized three

immunize verb protects against a times in their first year.
specific disease

incision cut in the body I had to have stitches to close

noun made during the incision.
surgery

inconclusive unclear We have to do more x-rays

adj because the first ones
were inconclusive.

infant young baby The nurse will demonstrate

noun how to bathe an infant.

infection noun diseased area of The wound should be

infected adj the body (viral or covered when you swim to
bacterial) prevent it from
becoming infected.

inflamed appearance (red My right ankle was

adj and swollen) of an so inflamed it was twice the
 injured body part size of my left one.

injury damage to the Her injuries were minor; just

noun body a few cuts and bruises.

intensive care unit section of the She will remain in the ICU
(ICU) hospital where until she can breathe on her
noun patients get own.
constant attention
and doctors rely on
specialized
equipment

internal under the skin, The doctors will be

adj inside the organs monitoring her for
any internal bleeding.

itchy feeling discomfort If you are allergic to this

adj on the skin's medication your skin will get
surface red and itchy.

IV a tube that pumps The toddler was so

noun liquids and dehydrated that the doctor
medication into a decided to get him on an IV.
patient's body

lab results tests that come back The lab results have come
noun from a laboratory and in and you are free to go
help doctors make a home.
diagnosis

lab (laboratory) place where samples I'll take these samples down
noun of blood/urine etc. are to the lab on my way out.
taken for testing

life support a machine that keeps The woman has severe

noun patients alive by brain damage and is
helping them breathe currently on life support.

life-threatening when injuries and The victim was shot in two

adj conditions are places but the bullet
extremely serious wounds are not life-
threatening.

light-headed feeling of dizziness If you are feeling light-

adj and being off-balance, headed again, lie down and
caused by lack of call me.
oxygen in the brain

malignant expected to grow and I'm afraid at least one of the

adj get much worse tumours is malignant.
(especially related to
cancerous cells)

medical school place where someone After eight years of medical

(med. school) trains to be a doctor school I can finally practice
noun medicine.

newborn an infant that is less You have to support her

noun than three months old neck because she is still
a newborn.

numb no feeling in a certain The needle will make your

adj body part lower body feel numb.

OR (operating the place where major You must wear a face mask
room) surgeries and and gloves while you are in
noun operations take place the OR.

operation noun a medical procedure The operation lasted seven

operate on verb that involves going hours, but it was successful.
inside a person's body
in an attempt to fix a
problem

pain strong discomfort in We gave your husband

noun certain areas of the some medicine to relieve
body some of the pain.

pain killer, pain type of medicine that You can take two pain
reliever takes away some or all killers every four hours.
noun of the discomfort of an
illness or injury

paralyzed unable to move certain We thought her legs

adj areas of the body were paralyzed for life, but
she is learning how to walk.

patient a person staying in a The patients in Room 4 are

noun hospital or medical not getting along.
facility

pharmacist a person who fills a Ask the pharmacist if there

noun doctor's prescription is a generic brand of this
and gives people
 advice about medication.
medication

pharmacy, a place where people You should be able to buy a

drugstore go to buy medication bandage at the pharmacy.
noun and other medical
supplies

physician doctor Ask your

noun family physician to refer
you to a specialist.

poison noun a substance that is The child was bitten by

poisonous adj very dangerous if it a poisonous snake.
enters the human body

prenatal of the time period The woman was well

adj leading up to giving prepared for labour
birth because she took
the prenatal classes.

prescription noun the correct amount You will need to visit your
prescribe verb and type of medication doctor to get
needed to cure an another prescription.
illness or relieve
symptoms

privacy noun being alone; personal You will have to pay for
private adj (eg test results) a private hospital room if
you don't want a room-
mate.
radiation high energy X-rays If the radiation doesn't kill
noun that destroy cancer all of the abnormal cells, the
cells cancer will come back.

residency part of a doctor's John is a resident under Dr

resident training that takes Brown.
noun place in the hospital;
a student working
under a doctor

routine check-up a doctor's appointment I'd like to see you a year

noun to check a person's from now for a routine
general health check-up.

scrubs plain uniform (usually I have some

noun green, white, or blue) extra scrubs in my locker.
worn by medical
professionals

scrub up carefully wash hands I have to scrub up and get

verb before and after ready for surgery.
seeing a patient

second opinion input from a second I went to another doctor to

noun doctor about an illness get a second
or symptom opinion about these
headaches.

seizure sudden violent People who suffer from

noun movements or epilepsy are prone
unconsciousness to seizures.
caused by electrical
signal malfunction in
 the brain

shock body not getting The woman was

noun enough blood flow in shock after being pulled
from the river.

side effects other symptoms that One of the side effects of

noun might occur as a result antidepressants is a loss of
of a certain medication appetite.
or procedure

sore painful I have a sore throat and a

adj runny nose.

spasm the uncontrollable Ever since I injured my leg

noun tightening of a muscle I've been having
muscle spasms in my
upper thigh.

specialist a doctor that is an My family doctor is sending

noun expert in a certain kind me to a specialist.
of medicine

sprain an injury (less serious I sprained my knee playing

noun/verb than a break) to a joint soccer.
(ankle, wrist, knee etc)

stable condition a patient is stable if You can see your husband

noun their medical condition now; he is in a stable
is no longer changing condition.
rapidly
sting sharp, temporary pain It may sting when I insert
noun/verb the needle.

stress noun worry that causes You need to take some time
stressed adj muscles to tighten and off work and relieve some of
blood pressure to rise your stress.

swelling noun ligaments (parts that I knew my ankle was

swollen adj hold the joints sprained because it was
together) growing so swollen.
bigger and rounder
after an injury to a joint

symptoms pain or physical You have all of

noun changes that occur the symptoms of a
because of an illness diabetic.
or disease

temperature amount of heat We brought Jesse to

noun measured in a body; emergency because he was
higher than normal running a
temperature (high) temperature.

tender painful when touched The incision

adj or used was tender after the
surgery.

test results medical information The test results came back

noun that helps doctors negative. You aren't
understand a patient's pregnant.
condition or body
therapy treatment aimed at I was able to go back to
noun improving a person's work a few weeks after
mental or physical starting the therapy.
condition

transplant moving of an organ The heart transplant saved

noun from one human to your life.
another

ultrasound a test that examines The ultrasound shows that

noun the body's internal we are expecting a baby
organs and processes boy.
using sound waves
(often used during
pregnancies)

umbilical cord the lifeline from the I had an emergency C-

noun mother to the fetus section because
(when cut at birth this the umbilical cord was
forms the belly button) wrapped around the baby's
neck.

unconscious alive, but appearing to I hit my head on the

adj be asleep and steering wheel and was
unaware of the still unconscious when the
surroundings ambulance arrived.

urine sample a small amount of the The urine sample tells us

noun body's liquid waste how much alcohol is in your
that is tested for blood.
different medical
reasons
vein the thin tubes that I'm just looking for the
noun transport blood around best vein in which to insert
the body and back to the needle.
the heart

virus a dangerous organism The virus is contractable

noun that causes the spread through the exchange of
of minor and major bodily fluids.
diseases

visiting hours time of day when I'm afraid you'll have to

noun friends and family are come back during visiting
allowed to visit hours.
patients in hospital

vomit discharge of a person The pregnant woman can't

noun/verb stomach contents stop vomiting.
through the mouth

ward a section of a hospital I should warn you that we're

noun or health facility where entering the mental
patients stay health ward.

wheelchair a chair on wheels used If you get in

noun for transporting the wheelchair I'll take you
patients from place to down to see the garden.
place

wound noun injury to body ("flesh The wounded soldiers are

wounded adj wound" means not being airlifted to the
deep) hospital.
x-ray a photograph of a The technician took x-
noun/verb person's bones and rays of my shoulder to
organs make sure it wasn't broken.