1

Preface

The aim of this book is to assist medical students to own capability of basic
rules of English. Therefore, the book contains the basic tenses in English grammar.
The tenses are intended to be applied by the students to converse. In addition, the
book contains exercises dealing with the grammar fort the students to see their
understanding of medical terminologies that might be useful for the students to
understand other medical subjects. They will find the terminologies in the various
texts in the book since the text are at medical topics in their theme. The purpose of
including the texts in this book is to help the students in their reading comprehension
ability. If the students have good ability in reading comprehension, it will help them
to understand other medical subjects which are dominantly found in books written in
English.

Drs. H. Azmir Pasaribu, M.A.

&
Susi Ekalestari, S.S., M.Hum.
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1. SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

Pattern:
Positive Negative Interrogative
I I Do I go ….
You You Do you go …...
go go
We We Do we go …...
They They Do they go …...
He He Does he go …...
She goes She goes Does she go …...
It It Does it go …...

A. The simple present tense is used to show a habitual action

Examples:
1. He drives to work every morning.
2. She teaches French twice a week.
3. We go to bed at ten every night.
4. They wear tie to school on Mondays.

B. The simple present tense is used to state a general truth

Examples:
1. Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
2. Tiger roar, they do not bark.
3. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

C. We often use simple present tense with certain adverbs like ‘usually, always,
often, never, sometimes, generally, etc’, and with phrases like ‘everyday, once
in a week, etc’.
Examples:
1. I usually drink a glass of milk in the morning.
2. She always sits on that chair.
3. We often sleep in the afternoon.
4. He never drinks beer.
5. I sometimes visit my grandfather.
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Put in the simple present tense of the verb in the bracket!

1. He ………………. (change) his uniform every day.
2. It ………………. (not often rain) in the afternoon.
3. She usually ………………. (wake) up early.
4. We always ………………. (play) football, we ………………. (not play) hockey.
5. ………………. You ………………. (smoke) a pipe?
6. He ………………. (take) part in the fire-walking ceremony every year.
7. As soon as the shop ………………. (open), go buy some batteries for the radio.
8. She ………………. (clean) her room once a month.
9. She ………………. (not clean) the room every week.
10. I ………………. (live) near the post office. I ………………. (walk) there every
morning to post my letter. I ………………. (not mind) when my friends
………………. (ask) me to buy stamps or post their letters for them.

TEXT 1
HISTORY OF SURGERY

Surgery has been defined as that branch of medical science which treats of
mechanical or operative measures for healing diseases. It has to do with therapy
carried out by the hands, its purpose is to heal.
Certainly, surgery is the oldest branch of therapy. It began in prehistoric ages
with primitive man, when in his struggle for existence he was continually in conflict
with the animals he hunted, or that were hunting him, as well as with his human
enemies. He might have been wounded. Therefore, he demanded immediate
treatment by some member of his family, or later of his tribe, who had the courage
and the knowledge to deal with bleeding gaping wounds, by such crude methods as
pressure and the application of moss and cobwebs.

Create ten interrogative sentences from the text above!

1. ____________________________________________________________

2. ____________________________________________________________
 4

3. ____________________________________________________________

4. ____________________________________________________________

5. ____________________________________________________________

6. ____________________________________________________________

7. ____________________________________________________________

8. ____________________________________________________________

9. ____________________________________________________________

10. ____________________________________________________________

Choose the right answer!

1. I can see your sister, ……. is playing with a doll.
a. I b. he c. you d. she
2. The man is talking to the boys. He is talking to …….
a. them b. they c. him d. you
3. I haven’t gotten the ball. Peter has got …….
a. him b. her c. it d. them
4. I can see the boys and ……. father.
a. they b. them c. their d. the
5. What ……. the boys doing now?
a. am b. are c. is d. was
6. It is nine o’clock ……. the morning.
a. at b. of c. in d. on
7. My sister is not ……. home.
a. to b. at c. on d. in
8. He is cutting the flower ……. a knife.
a. by b. to c. with d. as
9. The boy is sitting ……. the chair.
a. at b. in c. on d. off
10. He is writing a letter ……. his friend.
a. at b. to c. out d. in
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TEXT 2
THE COMPARTMENTS OF THE BODY

The body has three compartments. The first of these consists of active tissue,
which is also known as cell mass. This does most of the chemical work of the body.
The second compartment consists of supporting tissue. This is composed of bone
minerals, extra-cellular proteins, and the internal environment, or the extra-cellular
fluid in the blood and lymph. The third compartment is the energy reserve. This
consists of fat, which lies round the principal internal organs and in adipose tissue.
These compartments cannot be separated by physical dissection, but it is
possible to measure them indirectly. This may be done by using methods such as the
dilution technique. The size of each compartment varies according to the age, sex
and health of the individual. In healthy young man the total body weight is divided
approximately 55% cell mass, 30% supporting tissue, and energy reserve. A healthy
young woman is normally twice much fat.

Task: Write the main idea of the first and the second paragraph!

1st paragraph: ____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________

2nd paragraph: ____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________

Choose the best answer!

1. My brother hasn’t …... money.
a. some b. any c. many
 6

2. Why …... to John?

a. is he speaking b. he is speaking c. he speaking
3. Susan is …... the bird.
a. feeding b. eating c. giving
4. We are late. Uncle is waiting for …...
a. we b. us c. I
5. Merry is not happy. She …... now.
a. cry b. crying c. is crying
6. John cannot …... the ball.
a. catch b. catches c. catching
7. The girls …... with a doll.
a. play b. playing c. are playing
8. My friend …... to go home.
a. wants b. want c. wanting
9. Today the sun …... very hot.
a. is b. was c. are
10. We …... to the market.
a. go b. gone c. going
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II. SIMPLE PAST TENSE

Positive Negative Interrogative

S + V2 S + DID + NOT + V1 DID + S + V1
He ate He did not eat Did he eat?

The usage of simple past tense:

1. To show an action that happened at a definite time in the past.
a. He left the office an hour ago.
b. They lost the game last evening.
c. She did not return the book yesterday.
2. To show an action done regularly as a past habit.
a. When we were young, we often went fishing.
b. He always pretended to be ill when his aunt came.
c. I often wrote to her when I was in England.

Put the verb in the brackets into a simple past tense!

1. He …...…... (drink) a glass of fruit juice before he …...…... (drive) to the airport.
2. The whole basket of fruit …...…... (fall) off the lorry, but the lorry driver …...
…... (not notice) it.
3. The ambulance …...…... (take) the injured people to the hospital.
4. The hunters …...…... (not catch) the tiger although they …...…... (keep)
watching for it for two days.
5. His voice never …...…... (shake) when he …...…... (stand up) to address the
audience.
6. The child …...…... (hide) the toy when he …...…... (see) his brother
approaching.
7. The dress …...…... (shrink) when she …...…... (wash) it.
8. She …...…... (prepare) lunch before she …...…... (go) out.
9. He …...…... (pay) for the book but he …...…... (forget) to take it home.
10. He …...…... (mean) what he …...…... (say) when they …...…... (quarrel) with
him.
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TEXT 3
THE THORACIC CAVITY

The thoracic cavity is divided by fibrous partitions into three compartments.

The central compartment, the mediastinum, is a mass of tissue and organs, extending
from the vertebral column behind to the sternum in front. It contains the heart and
great blood vessels, the oesophagus, the trachea and its bifurcation, the phrenic and
vagus nerves, and the thoracic duct. The two lateral compartments are cavities,
known as the pleural cavities. These contain the lung.
The mediastinum is commonly considered to have three divisions, lying
anterior, posterior and superior to the pericardium. Both the anterior and the
posterior mediastinum are continuous with the superior mediastinum, which connect
freely with the neck.
The anterior mediastinum is not much more than a potential space. It lies
between the sternum and the pericardium and is overlapped by the anterior edges of
both lungs. It sometimes contains the lower part of the thymus gland, but usually this
does not extend lower than superior mediastinum.
The posterior mediastinum lies behind the pericardium and the diaphragm. It
contains the thoracic lymph nodes and various organs in their passage to or from the
superior mediastinum. These are principally the aorta and the oesophagus, which
descend from the superior mediastinum through the posterior mediastinum into
superior mediastinum.
The superior mediastinum contains the oesophagus, the trachea, the apices of
the lungs, the phrenic and vagus nerves, the arch of the aorta, and the other major
blood vessels. The superior mediastinum is remarkable for the asymmetrical
relationship of its contents, mainly due to the position of the great veins and arteries.
The pericardium is a fibrous sac which encloses the heart. The pericardium is
conical in shape, fused at its apex with the roots of the great veins and arteries and at
its base with the central tendon of the diaphragm. It is attached by ligaments to the
upper and lower ends of the sternum. A layer of serous membrane lines the fibrous
pericardium and is reflected round the roots of the great veins and anterior to cover
the surface of the heart. Thus, the heart is separated from the fibrous pericardial sac
by two adjacent layers of serous membrane.
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Task: Write the conclusion of the text above!

 11

III. DETERMINER

With countable nouns With uncountable nouns

A (an), the, some, any The, some, any
This, that, these, those This, that
None, one, two, three… None
Many Much
A lot of A lot of
A large number of A large number of
A great number of
A few, few A little, little
Fewer … than Less … than
More … than More … than

Exercise:
Fill the blanks with proper determiner!
1. There is only …… water in the glass. Please give some more.
2. There were not …… people at the market yesterday.
3. There are …… stars in the sky. I can’t count them all.
4. This room is clean. There is not …… dirt on the floor.
5. I put …… sugar on the fruit. I like sugar very much.
6. We can all get on the bus. There are only …… passengers on it now.
7. There is only …… sugar in the tin. We must buy some more.
8. How …… money do you want?
9. Can I have …… bananas, please? I don’t want many.
10. How …… of these bananas can I eat?

a. Dialogue
Bellyache
Doctor: Please come in. What seems to be the trouble?
Patient: It's my stomach. I think probably I had too much at supper yesterday
evening.
Doctor: Can you tell me what you had for supper yesterday evening?
 12

Patient: Seafood, roast duck. Oh, a great variety of things, I can't name them
exactly.
Doctor: Have you vomited?
Patient: Yes, I have vomited three times and made several trips to the bathroom last
night.
Doctor: I see. Now you have to get your stools tested. I'll write out a slip and you
can take it to the laboratory. Wait for a while and pick up the report, and
then bring it back to me.
Patient: All right, doctor. I'll see you later.
Doctor: See you later.
Patient: Here' my report, Doctor.
Doctor: Take your seat and let me have a look. It's nothing serious, only indigestion
due to too much oily food. I will prescribe you some medicine for it to make
you feel better. I do advise you to avoid oily food for the next few days.
Patient: I will follow your advice. Thanks a lot.
Doctor: You are welcome.

Exercise
Listen the dialogue and fill in the blanks!
Doctor: Please come in. What seems to be the __________?
Patient: It's my stomach. I think probably I had too much at __________ yesterday
evening.
Doctor: Can you tell me what you had for __________ yesterday evening?
Patient: Seafood, roast duck. Oh, a great variety of things, I can't name them
exactly.
Doctor: Have you __________?
Patient: Yes, I have __________ three times and made several trips to the bathroom
last night.
Doctor: I see. Now you have to get your __________ __________. I'll write out a
slip and you can take it to the __________. Wait for a while and pick up the
report, and then bring it back to me.
Patient: All right, doctor. I'll see you later.
Doctor: See you later.
Patient: Here' my report, Doctor.
 13

Doctor: Take your seat and let me have a look. It's nothing serious, only indigestion
due to too much oily food. I will __________ you some medicine for it to
make you feel better. I do advise you to avoid oily food for the next few
days.
Patient: I will follow your __________. Thanks a lot.
Doctor: You are welcome.

b. Text
Asthma is a disease of the lungs that is that is characterized by tightening of
the air pathways. Common symptoms of asthma are wheezing, shortness of breath,
coughing, chest pain, tightness or pressure. Many of these conditions are reversible
with medication but not 100% reversible in all patients. Some common features of
asthma are inflammation, airway obstruction and airway sensitivity. Some risk
factors for asthma are a family history of asthma, regular lung infections, presence of
allergies, exposure to tobacco smoke, low birth weight, and being male.
The current rise in asthma cases among children is alarming. Asthma may
occur at any age but is very common in children. Approximately 10% of children
have asthma and that rate may rise in the future. Experts don't agree why the rate is
increasing but here are some ideas:
 Children are being exposed to more triggers (things that bring on asthma
attacks; dust, tobacco smoke, pollution)
 Children don't have strong immune systems (they aren't exposed to many
childhood diseases.)
 Decreases in the rates of breast feeding may also play a role.
Asthma is a disease that causes many problems for the patient. However, it
can be controlled. With the right information and medical attention medical
professionals can prevent many deaths.

Exercise
Listen to the text and answer the following!
1. What are the main features of asthma?
2. What are some triggers for asthma attacks?
3. What happens in the body during an asthma attack?
 14

4. What information is important to tell the patient?

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TEXT 4
WOUND CLEANSING

Wound cleansing using aseptic precaution, in an integral part of the initial

treatment. Every open wound is contaminated, and frequently foreign materials are
embedded in the wound. For extensive wounds, preparation of the proposed
operative field is performed after the patient has been anesthetized. The surrounding
skin is shaped and carefully cleansed with soap or a bland detergent and sterile
water, while, the wound is protected by sterile dressing.
Following thorough cleansing of the skin, the wound is carefully irrigated
with saline solution and any loose foreign material is removed. The details of
technique may vary with different surgeons, but the procedure is essentially a
mechanical process with care being taken to avoid irritation of the skin or trauma to
the tissues. For the least serious type of wound at least ten minutes is required and
additional time should be taken to insure the cleanest field possible. It is necessary to
prepare an area large enough to carry out the operative procedure without fear of
contamination from unprepared skin surfaces, for the original wound may have to be
enlarged. For wounds of the extremities the entire circumference is prepared, and in
hand injuries the entire wrist and lower forearm are cleansed.

Task: Rewrite the text above by using your own language!

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DENTAL EXAMINATION
Questioning the patient

1. Can you tell me which tooth is causing the problem?

2. Where is it sore – the top teeth or bottom teeth?
3. Is it sore all the time?
4. What sorts of things make it sore?
5. Is it hot thing? Cold thing? Sweet thing?
6. Is it sore to touch?
7. Would it be sore if I tap the tooth?
8. How long have your gums been bleeding?
9. Have you had anaesthetic before?
10. Are you taking any medicines at the moment?
11. When was the last time you visited your dentist?

Task: Create a dialogue between a dentist and his patient in a dental clinic!

Dentist : _________________________________________________________

Patient : _________________________________________________________

Dentist : _________________________________________________________

Patient : _________________________________________________________

Dentist : _________________________________________________________

Patient : _________________________________________________________

Dentist : _________________________________________________________
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Medical Specialists

Medical specialists are experts in certain fields of medicine. They either treat
specific parts of the body, such as the back or the brain, or they specialize in certain
diseases, such as cancer. Family doctors keep a list of local specialists and can help
patients choose the right specialist for each medical issue. In many cases specialists
require a referral from a family doctor before they will see a patient. Here is a list of
the most common types of specialists. Study the list and then check your
understanding by taking the quiz.

allergist : specializes in determining food and environmental

allergies
anaesthesiologist : specializes in pain prevention during surgery
cardiologist : heart specialist
chiropractor : back specialist
dentist : tooth specialist
dermatologist : skin specialist
fertility specialist : helps people who have difficulty getting pregnant
gynaecologist : specializes in women's needs
massage therapist : specializes in muscle relaxation
midwife : helps women deliver babies in a natural way
naturopath : specializes in natural cures and remedies
neurologist : brain specialist
obstetrician : specialist for pregnant women
occupational therapist : specializes in workplace health
oncologist : tumour specialist, including cancer
ophthalmologist : specializes in eye diseases
paediatrician : specialist for babies and children
physical therapist : specializes in the body's movement
podiatrist : foot specialist
psychiatrist : specialist in mental health
radiologist : specializes in imaging tests
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Exercise
Read the patient complaints. Which specialist does each patient need?
1. I have a terrible rash on my arms and legs. I think I’m allergic to dairy food, but
it also might be grass.
a. chiropractor
b. ophthalmologist
c. allergist
d. psychiatrist
2. My husband and I just took a home pregnancy test, and it came out positive. We
want to know when we are due, and we want to make sure the foetus is healthy.
a. podiatrist
b. paediatrician
c. obstetrician
d. pharmacist
3. I still can’t walk, and it’s been three months since my accident. I hate being stuck
in a wheelchair.
a. anaesthesiologist
b. physical therapist
c. radiologist
d. dentist
4. The test results show that I have an advanced form of blood cancer.
a. oncologist
b. neurologist
c. midwife
d. dentist
5. My left eye has an infection that won’t go away, and my vision has been blurry
for two weeks now.
a. podiatrist
b. massage therapist
c. ophthalmologist
d. radiologist
6. I don’t want to take my drugs that will cause me to become addicted to them, but
I do need some sort of pain relief.
a. naturopath
 19

b. dentist
c. cardiologist
d. dermatologist
7. I’ve been having major chest pains this week. I’m also having trouble breathing.
a. gynaecologist
b. cardiologist
c. oncologist
d. dermatologist
8. I get terrible acne and I have tried all the products in the pharmacy. I don’t know
what to do now.
a. massage therapist
b. podiatrist
c. occupational therapist
d. dermatologist
9. My little girl hasn't put on weight for two months and she keeps getting ear
infections.
a. anaesthesiologist
b. paediatrician
c. midwife
d. massage therapist
10. My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for three years. We have tried
everything that the book suggests.
a. fertility specialist
b. oncologist
c. psychiatrist
d. dentist

TEXT 5
SOURCES OF ENERGY

The fuels of the body are carbohydrates, fats and proteins. These are taken in
the diet. They are found mainly in cereal grains, vegetables oils, meat fish, and dairy
 20

products. Carbohydrates are the principal source of energy in most diets. The are
absorbed into the bloodstream in the form of glucose. Glucose is not needed for
immediate use it is converted into glycogen and stored in the liver. When the blood
sugar concentration goes down, the liver reconverts some of its stored glycogen into
glucose.
Fats make up the second largest source of energy in most diets. They are
stored in adipose tissue and round the principal internal organs. If exceeds
carbohydrates is taken in, this can be converted intro fat and stored. The stored fat is
utilized when the liver is empty of glycogen.
Proteins are essential for the growth and rebuilding of tissue, but they can
also be utilized as a source of energy. In some diets, such as the diet of the Eskimo,
they form the main source of energy. Proteins are first broken down into amino
acids. Amino acids are not used by the body are eventually excreted in the urine in
the form of urea. Protein, unlike carbohydrates and fats, cannot be stored for future
use.

Task: Create 10 Wh-questions form the text above!

1. ._______________________________________________________________

2. ._______________________________________________________________

3. ._______________________________________________________________

4. ._______________________________________________________________

5. ._______________________________________________________________

6. ._______________________________________________________________

7. ._______________________________________________________________

8. ._______________________________________________________________

9. ._______________________________________________________________

10. ._______________________________________________________________
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IV. QUESTION TAGS

a) We put a negative tag after a positive statement. The expected answer is in the
positive.
Usage practice:
- The weather is fine, isn’t it? Yes, it is.
- The children are asleep, aren’t they? Yes, they are.
- He has eaten his dinner, hasn’t he? Yes, he has.
- She will conduct the choir, won’t she? Yes, she will.
b) To a negative statement, we add a positive tag. The expected answer is in the
negative.
Usage practice:
- It isn’t true, is it? No, it isn’t.
- They can’t leave now, can they? No, they can’t.
- She mustn’t be absent, must she? No, she mustn’t.
- You haven’t seen it yet, have you? No, I haven’t.
c) We use ‘do’ or ‘does’ when the statement is in present tense and we use ‘did’
when the statement is in past tense.
Usage practice:
- He plays hockey, doesn’t he? Yes, he does.
- They like sweets, don’t they? Yes, they do.
- You don’t agree with us, do you? No, I don’t.
- She doesn’t realize her mistake, does she? No, she doesn’t.
- We didn’t talk to them, did we? No, we didn’t.
- She spoke English, didn’t she? Yes, she did.

Exercises
Put a question tag at the end of each statement!
1. You can do the work by yourself, …………………
2. It hasn’t been raining, …………………
3. He must take part in the meeting, …………………
4. You play netball, …………………
5. The teachers are having the meeting, …………………
6. I can’t believe everything that he says, …………………
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7. She would be more comfortable staying with you, …………………

8. The electricity supply hasn’t been cut off yet, …………………
9. Your father is very strict, …………………
10. The doctor will give her an injection, …………………
11. He doesn’t know how to speak English, …………………
12. You go to bed early every night, …………………
13. He should inform the police of the theft, …………………
14. She visits her aunt twice in a week, …………………
15. The children were playing in the garden, …………………
16. Many of the women wept when they saw the film, …………………
17. The car skidded while you were coming back, …………………

TEXT 6
THE PROCESS OF DIGESTION

The process of digestion begins when food is taken into the mouth. Chewing
breaks the food into smaller pieces, thereby exposing more surfaces to the saliva.
Saliva itself has a double function, it moistens the food, so facilitating swallowing,
and it contains ptyalin, which begin the conversion of starch into simple sugars.
Although enzymatic action begins at the mouth, the major processes of
digestion do not occur until the food passes down through the oesophagus into the
stomach. The stomach has both chemical and physical function. The walls of the
stomach, which are protected by a layer of mucus, secrete juices composed of
several enzymes and hydrochloric acid. The most powerful enzyme is pepsin, which
begins the process of converting proteins into amino acids. In addition, during these
chemical reaction waves contraction and relaxation, known as peristalsis, sweep the
walls of the stomach. They churn the food particles into a semi-solid mass known as
chyme.
From the stomach, the chime passes into the small intestine through the
pyloric sphincter. Much undigested material is still present. Proteins have not been
completely broken down, starches are still being converted into simple sugars, and
fats remain in large globule. In the small intestine the process of digestion is
 23

completed by the action of bile, which is secreted by the liver and released by the
pancreas, and erepsin and invertase, secreted by the walls of the small intestine.
Food, which are still undigested pass on in a liquid state into the large intestine and
are now called faeces.
Absorption of the products of digestion takes place mainly through the wall
of the small intestine. Its inner surface is covered with minute hair-like projections
called villi. Each villus contains several bloods capillaries and a specialized
lymphatic vessel, known as lacteal. Glucose, fructose, galactose and the amino acids
are all absorbed directly into the blood by entering the blood capillaries inside the
villi. Glycerol and the fatty acids, on the other hand, pass into lacteals. The lymph
then carries the fat up to the left internal jugular vein, where it enters the
bloodstream.

Task: Create 10 Wh-questions form the text above!

1. ._______________________________________________________________

2. ._______________________________________________________________

3. ._______________________________________________________________

4. ._______________________________________________________________

5. ._______________________________________________________________

6. ._______________________________________________________________

7. ._______________________________________________________________

8. ._______________________________________________________________

9. ._______________________________________________________________

10. ._______________________________________________________________
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V. SIMPLE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

Positive Negative Interrogative

I I I
You You you
have + V3 haven’t + V3 Have + + V3
We We we
They They they
He He Has + he
She has + V3 She hasn’t + V3 she + V3
It It it

Simple perfect tense is used to show an action began in the past and is continuing. It
is used with ‘just’, ‘already’, ‘never’, ‘recently’, ‘yet’, ‘since’, ‘for’, etc.

Example:
1. I have repaired the car already.
2. He has not found the vase yet.
3. She has broken the glass.
4. They have just bought a refrigerator.
5. He has recently got married.
6. I have never been to Europe.
7. They have been out since five o’clock this morning.
8. The train has been in the station for more than an hour.
9. He has known her for more than three years.
10. I have been a doctor for two years.

Exercise:
Put the present perfect tense of the verbs in the brackets!
1. What ……………… (happen)? ……………… he (hurt) himself?
2. ……………… you ……………… (tell) your mother about it?
3. They ……………… already ……………… (send) in their subscription for the
magazines.
4. He ……………… (not eat) breakfast yet.
5. They ………………(be) in and out of court since last month.
 25

6. Her grandfather ……………… just ……………… (make) a will.

7. The plumber ……………… (be) here for a while already, but he ………………
(not start) on his work yet. He says that he ……………… (forget) to bring a few
tools.
8. The child ……………… (tear) his trousers on the fence. He ………………
(scratch) himself, too.
9. The gardener ……………… (wash) the hutch and ……………… (put) the
rabbits back into it.
10. She ……………… (take) the kettle off the stove, and she ……………… (make)
some tea.

DIALOGUE

Doctor's Diagnosis
Physician
 Your test results have come in.
 I'm afraid the prognosis isn't good.
 You have a long road to recovery.
 We have several options to discuss.
 The blood test came back negative.
 The transfusion was a success.
 It looks like you're ready to go home.
 I'd like to keep you here over night.
 We'll know more in a few days.
 You're not in the clear yet.
 We've ruled out diabetes.
 I'm hoping to get to the bottom of this soon.

Patient
 I don't understand what this means.
 Am I going to need surgery?
 26

 Is it good news or bad?

 When will the tests results come in?
 How long do I have to stay in the hospital?
 What is the success rate?
 Are they going to run more tests?
 Is this a common problem for people my age?
 I'd like to discuss other options.
 I'm going to get a second opinion.

Sample Conversation
Doctor : Hi Jessica. How are you feeling today?
Patient : A bit better.
Doctor : That's good to hear. Are you still feeling nauseous?
Patient : No, I haven't felt sick to my stomach since you switched my medication.
Doctor : Great. Say, your test results came in this morning.
Patient : It's about time. Is it good news or bad?
Doctor : I guess it's a bit of both. Which do you want first?
Patient : Let's get the bad news over with.
Doctor : Okay. It looks like you're going to need surgery to remove the tumour
from your leg. After the operation you're going to have to stay off your
feet for at least three weeks. That means no soccer.
Patient : I was afraid you were going to say that.
Doctor : Now for the good news. The biopsy shows that the tumour is benign,
which means it's not cancerous. We're going to take it out anyway just to
be on the safe side.
Patient : Wow, that's a load off my mind. Thanks Doctor.
Doctor : Don't get too excited. We still need to get to the bottom of all of this
weight loss.
Patient : I've probably just been so worried about this stupid lump.
Doctor : These things often are stress related, but we're still going to do a few
blood tests just to rule a few things out.
Patient : Things like what? Cancer?
Doctor : Actually, I'm thinking more along the lines of a food allergy.
 27

TEXT 7
GROSS ANATOMY OF THE TRUNK

The trunk is the central part of the body. The neck and head extend above the
trunk and are continuous with it. The upper limbs are attached to either side of the
trunk and the lower limbs extend downwards from it. The outer tissues of the trunk
form the body wall.
The trunk consists of two main cavities, namely the thorax and the abdomen.
These are separated by a dome-shaped muscle known as the diaphragm. The thorax
lies above the diaphragm, and the abdomen lies below it.
The posterior wall of both cavities is composed of the vertebral column and
its related muscles.
The thoracic cavity is bounded at the sides and front by two ribs, the sternum,
and the intercostals muscles. The principal internal organs contained in the thorax
are the heart and the lungs. The abdomen is the largest cavity in the body. It consists
of two parts; the abdominal cavity and the pelvic cavity.
The lateral and anterior walls of the abdominal cavity are formed mainly by
three layers of muscles which run concentrically round the cavity. The organs of
digestion are the principal internal organs contained in the abdomen.
The pelvic cavity, or pelvis, lies below the abdominal cavity and is
continuous with it. It is bounded anteriorly and laterally by bone. The contents of the
pelvis are the urinary bladder, the lower part of the large intestine, the rectum, and
some of the reproductive organs.

Task: Write the conclusion of the text above!

 28

To ask simple questions to a patient

1. What’s your problem?
2. What seems to be a problem?
3. What’s wrong with you?
4. What makes you come to me?
5. What’s your chief complaint?
6. What is your stomach-ache like?
7. What is your breathlessness like?
8. What is your dizziness like?
9. What is your appetite like?
10. What is your baby’s cough like?
11. What was your last pregnancy like?
12. What are your periods like?
13. What is your back-pain like?

Task: Write a dialogue between a doctor and a patient in a hospital!

 29

TEXT 8
BLEEDING

Bleeding is the loss of blood from the circulatory system. Bleeding can occur
internally, where blood leaks from blood vessels inside the body or externally, either
through a natural opening such as the vagina, mouth or anus, or through a break in
the skin. The complete loss of blood is referred to as exsanguination, and
desanguination is a massive blood loss. Typically, a healthy person can endure a loss
of 10-15% of total blood volume without serious medical difficulties, , and blood
donation typically takes 8-10% of the donor's blood volume.
Bleeding generally becomes dangerous, or even fatal, when it causes
hypovolemia (low blood volume) or hypotension (low blood pressure). In these
scenarios various mechanisms come into play to maintain the body's homeostasis.
These include the "retro-stress-relaxation" mechanism of cardiac muscle, the
baroreceptor reflex and renal and endocrine responses such as the renin - angiotensin
- aldosterone system (RAAS).
Certain diseases or medical conditions, such as haemophilia and low platelet
count (thrombocytopenia), may increase the risk of bleeding or may allow otherwise
minor bleeds to become health or life threatening. Anticoagulant medications such as
warfarin can mimic the effects of haemophilia, preventing clotting and allowing free
blood flow.
Death from bleeding can generally occur surprisingly quickly. This is
because of 'positive feedback'. An example of this is 'cardiac repression', when poor
heart contraction depletes blood flow to the heart, causing even poorer heart
contraction. This kind of effect causes death to occur more quickly than expected.

Task: Write the conclusion of the text above!

30
 31

Vocabulary

General Medical Vocabulary

Word
Meaning Example Sentence
part of speech
This amount of weight loss
abnormal not normal for the
is abnormal for women your
adj human body
age.
ache I can't sleep because my
pain that won't go away
noun/verb knees ache in the night.
We knew the baby was coming
acute quick to become right away because the
adj severe/bad woman's labour pains
were acute.
a body's abnormal
reaction to certain
allergy noun Your son is
foods or environmental
allergic adj extremely allergic to peanuts.
substances (eg causes a
rash)
emergency vehicle that
ambulance We called the ambulance when
rushes people to a
noun Josh stopped breathing.
hospital
a condition that causes
amnesia I can't remember the accident
people to lose their
noun because I had amnesia.
memory
We had to amputate his leg
amputation noun permanent removal of a
because the infection spread so
amputate verb limb
quickly.
occurs when the body
anaemia noun I have low energy because I
doesn't have enough
anaemic adj am anaemic.
red blood cells
medication that kills
antibiotics My throat infection went away
bacteria and cures
noun after I started the antibiotics.
infections
medication that helps The anti-depressants helped
anti-depressant
relieve anxiety and me get on with life after Lucy
noun
sadness died.
a scheduled meeting I've made you
appointment
with a medical an appointment with a
noun
professional specialist in three week time.
arthritis a disease that causes My grandmother can't knit
noun the joints to become anymore because
 32

Word
Meaning Example Sentence
part of speech
the arthritis in her hands is so
swollen and crippled
bad.
a condition that causes
a blockage of the
asthma (attack) I carry an inhaler when I run
airway and makes it
noun because I have asthma.
difficult for a person to
breathe
To prevent the spread
bacteria a disease-causing
of bacteria it is important that
noun organism
nurses wash their hands often.
wounds that develop on
If you don't get up and take a
bedsore a patient's body from
walk, you will develop
noun lying in one place for
painful bedsores.
too long
We're hoping that the tests will
benign not harmful (not
show that the lump in your
adj cancerous)
breast is benign.
removal of human
biopsy tissue in order to The biopsy ruled out a number
noun conduct certain medical of illnesses.
tests
the amount of red and You will be happy to know that
blood count
white blood cells a your blood count is almost
noun
person has back to normal.
a person who gives Blood donors have to answer
blood donor
blood to a blood bank questions about their medical
noun
or other person history.
the rate at which blood
blood pressure High blood pressure puts you
flows through the body
noun at risk of having a heart attack.
(high/low)
a device that holds You will probably always have
brace
injured body parts in to wear a brace on your ankle
noun
place when you jog.
position of an unborn
We thought it was going to be
breech baby in which the feet
a breech birth, but the baby
adj are down, and the head
turned himself around.
is up
a bone that is divided We thought it was just a sprain,
broken
in two or more pieces but it turned out his leg
adj
as a result of an injury was broken.
bruise noun injured body tissue that The woman was
 33

Word
Meaning Example Sentence
part of speech
is visible underneath badly bruised when she came
bruised adj
the skin into the emergency room.
procedure that involves
Caesarean section, removing a baby from The baby was so large that we
C-section its mother through an had to perform a Caesarean
noun incision in the woman's section.
lower abdomen
disease caused by the There are many different
cancer
uncontrollable growth options when it comes to
noun
of cells treating cancer.
cardiopulmonary
restoring a person's You saved your brother's life
resuscitation (CPR)
breath and circulation by performing CPR.
noun
a hard bandage that is
cast wrapped around a My leg was in a cast for
noun broken bone to keep it graduation.
in place
a place where loved
ones can go to pray for
chapel, chaplain If you want a place to pray,
a patient's recovery;
noun the chapel is on the third floor.
a priest who visits
patients in the hospital
chemotherapy type of treatment used My mother has already had
noun on cancer patients three rounds of chemotherapy.
a virus commonly
It is best to get chickenpox as a
chickenpox contracted by children,
child so that you don't get it
noun characterized by itchy
worse as an adult.
spots all over the body
a person who
coroner determines the cause of We only call the coroner if we
noun death after a person think a death is suspicious.
dies
requiring immediate
critical condition You can't see her right now;
and constant medical
noun she's in critical condition.
attention
objects that people with
crutches I'd rather hop on one foot than
injured legs or feet use
noun use crutches.
to help them walk
a sac in the body-tissue We're going to remove
cyst
filled with fluid the cysts just to be on the safe
noun
(sometimes diseased) side.
 34

Word
Meaning Example Sentence
part of speech
deaf The accident left the patient
unable to hear
adj both deaf and blind.
a lack of something
deficiency The tests show that you have an
necessary for one's
noun iron deficiency.
health
It is easy for the elderly to
dehydrated
in need of water become dehydrated in this
adj
heat.
dementia It is hard to watch a loved one
loss of mental capacity
noun suffering with dementia.
type of disease People with diabetes have to
diabetes
typically involving constantly check their blood
noun
insulin deficiency sugar levels.
The doctor would prefer to
diagnosis medical explanation of
share the diagnosis with the
noun an illness or condition
patient himself.
This pain medication should
discomfort
experiencing pain relieve some of
noun
your discomfort.
a medical disorder that I understand that
disease
is harmful to a person's this disease runs in your
noun
health family.
when a bone is You will have to wear a sling
dislocated
temporarily separated because of
adj
from its joint your dislocated shoulder.
a medical problem that It is important that children
emergency
needs immediate know which number to dial in
noun
attention case of an emergency.
the hospital room used
ER (emergency The child was rushed into
for treating patients
room) the ER after he had a severe
with immediate and
noun allergic reaction to a bee sting.
life-threatening injuries
This cream is for external use
external
on the outside only. Do not get it near your
adj
ears, eyes, or mouth.
We had two false
false negative
a test that incorrectly negative pregnancy tests, so we
noun
comes back negative didn't know we were having a
adj
baby.
family history medical background of The doctor was concerned
noun a person's family about my family history of
 35

Word
Meaning Example Sentence
part of speech
members skin cancer.
The doctor made a fatal error
fatal
causing death when he wrote the wrong
adj
prescription.
He is very feverish, and his
fever noun higher than normal
temperature is near danger
feverish adj body temperature
point.
many types of
flu (influenza) respiratory or intestinal People who have the flu should
noun infections passed on not visit hospital patients.
through a virus
fracture noun Your wrist is fractured and
broken or cracked bone
fractured adj needs a cast.
a micro-organism, Flowers are not allowed in the
germ
especially one that ward to avoid the risk
noun
causes disease of germs being brought in.
a medical condition or
genetic The disease is part genetic and
physical feature that is
adj part environmental.
passed on in the family
a ball of tissue that
growth grows bigger than That growth on your shoulder
noun normal, either on or is starting to worry me.
under the skin
instance in which blood People who smoke are at
heart attack
stops pumping through greater risk of having a heart
noun
the heart attack.
the virus that infects
HIV HIV can be passed down from
the human T-cells and
noun the mother to her fetus.
leads to AIDS
bumps that appear on
hives the surface of the skin I broke out in hives after I ate
noun during an allergic that potato casserole.
reaction
general term for any
condition that makes a Her illness went away when
illness noun
person feel sick for a she started eating better.
ill adj
certain period
the parts of the body
immune system You can't have visitors because
that fight diseases,
noun your immune system is low.
infections, and viruses
immunization noun an injection that Babies are immunized three
 36

Word
Meaning Example Sentence
part of speech
protects against a
immunize verb times in their first year.
specific disease
incision cut in the body made I had to have stitches to close
noun during surgery the incision.
We have to do more x-rays
inconclusive
unclear because the first ones
adj
were inconclusive.
infant The nurse will demonstrate
young baby
noun how to bathe an infant.
The wound should be covered
infection noun diseased area of the
when you swim to prevent it
infected adj body (viral or bacterial)
from becoming infected.
appearance (red and My right ankle was
inflamed
swollen) of an injured so inflamed it was twice the
adj
body part size of my left one.
injury Her injuries were minor; just a
damage to the body
noun few cuts and bruises.
section of the hospital
intensive care unit where patients get She will remain in the ICU
(ICU) constant attention and until she can breathe on her
noun doctors rely on own.
specialized equipment
internal under the skin, inside The doctors will be monitoring
adj the organs her for any internal bleeding.
If you are allergic to this
itchy feeling discomfort on
medication your skin will get
adj the skin's surface
red and itchy.
a tube that pumps The toddler was so dehydrated
IV
liquids and medication that the doctor decided to get
noun
into a patient's body him on an IV.
 37

Exercise
1. You shouldn’t drive because this medicine might make you feel __________
a. life-threatening
b. lightheaded
c. malignant
d. swollen
2. The children’s __________ is located on the fourth floor of the hospital.
a. vein
b. transplant
c. ward
d. wound
3. discontinue using this cream immediately if it makes you feel __________.
a. amnesia
b. anaemia
c. dementia
d. asthma
4. Your blood count is abnormal, so you may have __________.
a. amnesia
b. anaemia
c. dementia
d. asthma
5. The doctor wrote me a __________ for a new type of pain reliever.
a. prescription
b. patient
c. radiation
d. scrub up
6. __________ from this medication include nausea and depression.
a. Side effects
b. Stress
c. Spasm
d. Stable condition
7. The __________ suggests that your wife is seventeen weeks pregnant.
a. sore
b. therapy
c. ultrasound
d. seizure
8. The patient has asked for some __________ while her family is visiting.
a. poisonous
b. privacy
c. scrub up
d. second opinion
9. The physician will be monitoring your __________ to make sure it isn’t
cancerous.
 38

a. antibiotics
b. laboratory
c. immunization
d. growth
10. You couldn’t have inherited disease because it is not __________.
a. Feverish
b. allergic
c. genetic
d. infectious
 39

Medical Equipment
Here is a list of some of the most common supplies found in doctor's offices,
operating rooms, and medical kits. Study the vocabulary and try the matching
exercise.

antiseptic liquid used to sterilize (clean) the surface of the skin

a cloth covering that is placed over a wound to prevent
bandage
bleeding, swelling and infection
bandage scissors tool used to cut bandages
blood pressure a tool that measures the force of blood flow through a
monitor person's body
dressing protective covering that is placed over a wound

elastic tape a thin roll of stretchy material that is sticky on one side
a poster of letter, word, and number combinations of various
eye chart
sizes used to test a person's eyesight
instrument used during operations and medical procedures
forceps
(assists the doctor in pulling, holding, and retrieving)
gauze thin, netted material used for dressing wounds
hypodermic sharp pointed metal piece that pricks the skin (attached to a
needle syringe), used for taking blood or administering medicine
the pouch that contains liquids to be pumped into a patient's
IV bag
body
medicine cup small plastic measuring cup
equipment that makes small things appear larger than they
microscope
are
otoscope a device used for looking into a patient's ears
equipment that fits over the nose and mouth and supplies
oxygen mask
oxygen
an object that is used to separate the doctor and patient from
privacy screen
others in an open room
scales a device that measures a person's weight

stethoscope equipment for listening to a person's heart and lungs

a cylinder-shaped piece that attaches to a needle and can be
syringe
filled with liquid
table and head- paper that is placed on an examining table or headrest to
rest paper prevent the spread of germs
 40

glass cylinder that is filled with blood or other liquids and

test tube
can be capped and placed in a storage area
thermometer an instrument used to check a person's body temperature

vial a small bottle or container used for storing liquids

Matching Exercise
Match the comments with the supplies that are needed:
1 I can't catch my breath. a table and head-rest paper
Prepare the examining table for the
2 b thermometer
next patient.
3 We'll have to get a blood sample. c oxygen mask
4 I need to sterilize the wound. d hypodermic needle
5 We'll have to feed him with liquids. e bandage scissors
6 Let's find out your weight. f scales
I need to examine the patient in
7 g eye chart
private.
8 Let's check your vision. h antiseptic
9 Let's see if you are running a fever. i IV bag
1
Can you cut this gauze for me? j privacy screen
0
 41

References

Etherton, A.R.B. Objective English Tests. Hong Kong: English Department Chung
Chi College, the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Darmawan, Iyan. 1998. English for Medical Student. Jakarta: Lembaga Penerbit
Fakultas Ekonomi Universitas Indonesia.

Davis, Loyal, M.D. 1960. Christoper’s Textbook of Surgery. Philadelphia: W.B.

Saunders Company.

Maclean, Joan. 1992. English in Basic Medical Science. Hong Kong: Oxford
University Press.

Maher, John Christoper. 1994. International Medical Communication. Jakarta

Barat: Binarupa Aksara.

Tomson, A.J. and Martinet, A.V. 1995. A Practical English Grammar. Oxford:
Oxford University Press.