Medical English Vocabulary
Here are some essential medical vocabulary working . Each word is shown with its meaning and example sentence is given to make you understand better
| Words | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Abnormal | not normal for the human body | This amount of weight loss is abnormal for women of your age. |
| Ache | pain that is not going away | I can’t sleep because my knees ache in the night. |
| Acute | quick to become severe/bad | She was crying as her pain was getting acute. |
| Allergy noun Allergic adj | a body’s abnormal reaction to certain foods or environmental substances (e.g. causes a rash) | Your son is extremely allergic to brinjals |
| Ambulance | emergency vehicle that rushes people to a hospital | We called the ambulance when Ram had difficulty breathing. |
| Amnesia | a condition that causes people to lose their memory | I can’t remember the accident because I had amnesia. |
| Amputation noun Amputate verb | permanent removal of a limb | We had to amputate his leg because the infection spread so quickly. |
| anaemia noun anaemic adj | occurs when the body doesn’t have enough red blood cells | I have low energy because I am anaemic. |
| antibiotics | medication that kills bacteria and cures infections | My throat infection went away after I started the antibiotics. |
| anti-depressant | medication that helps relieve anxiety and sadness | The anti-depressants helped me get on with life after I got fired from job |
| appointment | a scheduled meeting with a medical professional | I’ve made you an appointment with a specialist in three week’s time. |
| arthritis | a disease that causes the joints to become swollen and crippled | My grandmother can’t knit anymore because the arthritis in her hands is so bad. |
| asthma (attack) | a condition that causes a blockage of the airway and makes it difficult for a person to breathe | I carry an inhaler when I run because I have asthma. |
| bacteria | a disease-causing organism | To prevent the spread of bacteria it is important that nurses wash their hands often. |
| bedsore | wounds that develop on a patient’s body from lying in one place for too long | If you don’t get up and take a walk, you will develop painful bedsores. |
| benign | not harmful (not cancerous) | We’re hoping that the tests will show that the lump in your breast is benign. |
| biopsy | removal of human tissue in order to conduct certain medical tests | The biopsy ruled out a number of illnesses. |
| blood count | the amount of red and white blood cells a person has | You will be happy to know that your blood count is almost back to normal. |
| blood donor | a person who gives blood to a blood bank or other person | Blood donors have to answer questions about their medical history. |
| blood pressure | the rate at which blood flows through the body (high/low) | High blood pressure puts you at risk of having a heart attack. |
| brace | a device that holds injured body parts in place | You will probably always have to wear a brace on your ankle when you jog. |
| breech | position of an unborn baby in which the feet are down and the head is up | We thought it was going to be a breech birth, but the baby turned himself around. |
| broken | a bone that is divided in two or more pieces as a result of an injury | We thought it was just a sprain, but it turned out his leg was broken. |
| bruise noun bruised adj | injured body tissue that is visible underneath the skin | The woman was badly bruised when she came into the emergency room. |
| Caesarean section, C-section | procedure that involves removing a baby from its mother through an incision in the woman’s lower abdomen | The baby was so large that we had to perform a Caesarean section. |
| cancer | disease caused by the uncontrollable growth of cells | There are many different options when it comes to treating cancer. |
| cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) | restoring a person’s breath and circulation | I saved your friend’s life by performing CPR. |
| cast | a hard bandage that is wrapped around a broken bone to keep it in place | My leg was in a cast after the accident |
| chapel, chapeline | a place where loved ones can go to pray for a patient’s recovery; a priest who visits patients in the hospital | If you want a place to pray, the chapel is on the third floor. |
| chemotherapy | type of treatment used on cancer patients | My mother has already had three rounds of chemotherapy. |
| chickenpox | a virus commonly contracted by children, characterized by itchy spots all over the body | It is best to get chickenpox as a child so that you don’t get it worse as an adult. |
| coroner | a person who determines the cause of death after a person dies | We only call the coroner if we think a death is suspicious. |
| critical condition | requiring immediate and constant medical attention | You can’t see her right now; she’s in critical condition. |
| crutches | objects that people with injured legs or feet use to help them walk | I’d rather hop on one foot than use crutches. |
| cyst | a sac in the body-tissue filled with fluid (sometimes diseased) | We’re going to remove the cysts just to be on the safe side. |
| deaf | unable to hear | The accident left the patient both deaf and blind. |
| deficiency | a lack of something necessary for one’s health | The tests show that you have an iron deficiency. |
| dehydrated | in need of water | It is easy for the elderly to become dehydrated in this heat. |
| dementia | loss of mental capacity | It is hard to watch a loved one suffering with dementia. |
| diabetes | type of disease typically involving insulin deficiency | People with diabetes have to constantly check their blood sugar levels. |
| diagnosis | medical explanation of an illness or condition | The doctor would prefer to share the diagnosis with the patient himself. |
| discomfort | experiencing pain | This pain medication should relieve some of your discomfort. |
| disease | a medical disorder that is harmful to a person’s health | I understand that this disease runs in your family. |
| dislocated | when a bone is temporarily separated from its joint | You will have to wear a sling because of your dislocated shoulder. |
| emergency | a medical problem that needs immediate attention | It is important that children know which number to dial in case of an emergency. |
| ER (emergency room) | the hospital room used for treating patients with immediate and life-threatening injuries | The child was rushed into the ER after he had a severe allergic reaction to a bee sting. |
| external | on the outside | This cream is for external use only. Do not get it near your ears, eyes, or mouth. |
| false negative noun adj | a test that incorrectly comes back negative | We had two false negative pregnancy tests, so we didn’t know we were having a baby. |
| family history | medical background of a person’s family members | The doctor was concerned about my family history of skin cancer. |
| fatal | causing death | The doctor made a fatal error when he wrote the wrong prescription. |
| fever noun feverish adj | higher than normal body temperature | He is very feverish, and his temperature is near danger point. |
| flu (influenza) | many types of respiratory or intestinal infections passed on through a virus | People who have the flu should not visit hospital patients. |
| fracture noun fractured adj | broken or cracked bone | Your wrist is fractured and needs a cast. |
| germ | a micro-organism, especially one that causes disease | Flowers are not allowed in the ward to avoid the risk of germs being brought in. |
| genetic | a medical condition or physical feature that is passed on in the family | The disease is part genetic and part environmental. |
| growth | a ball of tissue that grows bigger than normal, either on or under the skin | That growth on your shoulder is starting to worry me. |
| heart attack | instance in which blood stops pumping through the heart | People who smoke are at greater risk of having a heart attack. |
| HIV | the virus that infects the human T-cells and leads to AIDS | HIV can be passed down from the mother to her fetus. |
| hives | bumps that appear on the surface of the skin during an allergic reaction | I broke out in hives after I ate that potato casserole. |
| illness noun ill adj | general term for any condition that makes a person feel sick for a certain period of time | Her illness went away when she started eating better. |
| immune system | the parts of the body that fight diseases, infections, and viruses | You can’t have visitors because your immune system is low. |
| immunization noun immunize verb | an injection that protects against a specific disease | Babies are immunized three times in their first year. |
| incision | cut in the body made during surgery | I had to have stitches to close the incision. |
| inconclusive | unclear | We have to do more x-rays because the first ones were inconclusive. |
| infant | young baby | The nurse will demonstrate how to bathe an infant. |
| infection noun infected adj | diseased area of the body (viral or bacterial) | The wound should be covered when you swim to prevent it from becoming infected. |
| inflamed | appearance (red and swollen) of an injured body part | My right ankle was so inflamed it was twice the size of my left one. |
| injury | damage to the body | Her injuries were minor; just a few cuts and bruises. |
| intensive care unit (ICU) | section of the hospital where patients get constant attention and doctors rely on specialized equipment | She will remain in the ICU until she can breathe on her own. |
| internal | under the skin, inside the organs | The doctors will be monitoring her for any internal bleeding. |
| itchy | feeling discomfort on the skin’s surface | If you are allergic to this medication your skin will get red and itchy. |
| IV noun | a tube that pumps liquids and medication into a patient’s body | The toddler was so dehydrated that the doctor decided to get him on an IV. |
| lab results | tests that come back from a laboratory and help doctors make a diagnosis | The lab results have come in and you are free to go home. |
| lab (laboratory) | place where samples of blood/urine etc. are taken for testing | I’ll take these samples down to the lab on my way out. |
| life support | a machine that keeps patients alive by helping them breathe | The woman has severe brain damage and is currently on life support. |
| life-threatening | when injuries and conditions are extremely serious | The victim was shot in two places but the bullet wounds are not life-threatening. |
| light-headed | feeling of dizziness and being off-balance, caused by lack of oxygen in the brain | If you are feeling light-headed again, lie down and call me. |
| malignant | expected to grow and get much worse (especially related to cancerous cells) | I’m afraid at least one of the tumours is malignant. |
| medical school (med. school) | place where someone trains to be a doctor | After eight years of medical school I can finally practice medicine. |
| newborn | an infant that is less than three months old | You have to support her neck because she is still a newborn. |
| numb | no feeling in a certain body part | The needle will make your lower body feel numb. |
| OR (operating room) | the place where major surgeries and operations take place | You must wear a face mask and gloves while you are in the OR. |
| operation noun operate on verb | a medical procedure that involves going inside a person’s body in an attempt to fix a problem | The operation lasted seven hours, but it was successful. |
| pain | strong discomfort in certain areas of the body | We gave your husband some medicine to relieve some of the pain. |
| pain killer, pain reliever | type of medicine that takes away some or all of the discomfort of an illness or injury | You can take two pain killers every four hours. |
| paralyzed | unable to move certain areas of the body | We thought her legs were paralyzed for life, but she is learning how to walk. |
| patient | a person staying in a hospital or medical facility | The patients in Room 4 are recovering well |
| pharmacist | a person who fills a doctor’s prescription and gives people advice about medication | Ask the pharmacist if there is a generic brand of this medication. |
| pharmacy, drugstore | a place where people go to buy medication and other medical supplies | You should be able to buy a bandage at the pharmacy. |
| physician | doctor | Ask your family physician to refer you to a specialist. |
| poison noun poisonous adj | a substance that is very dangerous if it enters the human body | The child was bitten by a poisonous snake. |
| prenatal | of the time period leading up to giving birth | The woman was well prepared for labour because she took the prenatal classes. |
| prescription noun prescribe verb | the correct amount and type of medication needed to cure an illness or relieve symptoms | You will need to visit your doctor to get another prescription. |
| privacy noun private adj | being alone; personal (e.g. test results) | You will have to pay for a private hospital room if you don’t want a room-mate. |
| radiation | high energy X-rays that destroy cancer cells | Excessive exposure to radiation is not good for health |
resident | a student working under a doctor | John is a resident under Dr Brown. |
| routine check-up | a doctor’s appointment to check a person’s general health | I’d like to see you a year from now for a routine check-up. |
| scrubs | plain uniform (usually green, white, or blue) worn by medical professionals | I have some extra scrubs in my locker. |
| scrub up | carefully wash hands before and after seeing a patient | I have to scrub up and get ready for surgery. |
| Second opinion | input from a second doctor about an illness or symptom | I went to another doctor to get a second opinion about these headaches. |
| Seizure | sudden violent movements or unconsciousness caused by electrical signal malfunction in the brain | People who suffer from epilepsy are prone to seizures. |
| Shock | body not getting enough blood flow | The woman was in shock after being pulled from the river. |
| Side effects | other symptoms that might occur as a result of a certain medication or procedure | One of the side effects of antidepressants is a loss of appetite. |
| Sore | painful | I have a sore throat and a runny nose. |
| Spasm | the uncontrollable tightening of a muscle | Ever since I injured my leg I’ve been having muscle spasms in my upper thigh. |
| Specialist | a doctor that is an expert in a certain kind of medicine | My family doctor is sending me to a specialist. |
| Sprain | an injury (less serious than a break) to a joint (ankle, wrist, knee etc) | I sprained my knee playing soccer. |
| Stable condition | a patient is stable if their medical condition is no longer changing rapidly | You can see your husband now; he is in a stable condition. |
| Sting | sharp, temporary pain | It may sting when I insert the needle. |
| Stress noun Stressed adj | worry that causes muscles to tighten and blood pressure to rise | You need to take some time off work and relieve some of your stress. |
| Swelling noun Swollen adj | ligaments (parts that hold the joints together) growing bigger and rounder after an injury to a joint | I knew my ankle was sprained because it was swollen. |
| Symptoms | pain or physical changes that occur because of an illness or disease | You have all of the symptoms of a diabetic. |
| Temperature | amount of heat measured in a body; higher than normal temperature | We brought Jay to emergency because he was running a (high) temperature. |
| Tender | painful when touched or used | The incision was tender after the surgery. |
| Test results | medical information that helps doctors understand a patient’s condition or body | The test results came negative. |
| Therapy | treatment aimed at improving a person’s mental or physical condition | I was able to go back to work a few weeks after starting the therapy. |
| Transplant | moving of an organ from one human to another | The heart transplant saved your life. |
| Ultrasound | a test that examines the body’s internal organs and processes using sound waves (often used during pregnancies) | The ultrasound shows that we are expecting a baby boy. |
| Umbilical cord | the lifeline from the mother to the fetus (when cut at birth this forms the belly button) | I had an emergency C-section because the umbilical cord was wrapped around the baby’s neck. |
| Unconscious | alive, but appearing to be asleep and unaware of the surroundings | I hit my head on the steering wheel and was still unconscious when the ambulance arrived. |
| Urine sample | a small amount of the body’s liquid waste that is tested for different medical reasons | The urine sample tells us how much alcohol is in your blood. |
| Vein | the thin tubes that transport blood around the body and back to the heart | I’m just looking for the best vein in which to insert the needle. |
| Virus | a dangerous organism that causes the spread of minor and major diseases | The virus is contractable through the exchange of bodily fluids. |
| Visiting hours | time of day when friends and family are allowed to visit patients in hospital | Come back during visiting hours,you are not allowed to meet the patient |
| Vomit | discharge of a person stomach contents through the mouth | The pregnant woman often vomits. |
| Ward | a section of a hospital or health facility where patients stay | I should warn you that we’re entering the mental health ward. |
| Wheelchair | a chair on wheels used for transporting patients from place to place | If you get in the wheelchair I’ll take you down to see the garden. |
| Wound noun Wounded adj | injury to body (“flesh wound” means not deep) | The wounded soldiers are being airlifted to the hospital. |
| X-ray | a photograph of a person’s bones and organs | The technician took x-ray of my leg to make sure it wasn’t broken. |
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