TOP 100 MEDICAL WORDS WITH EXPLANATION

INTRODUCTION

Understanding medical terminology is essential for professionals working in healthcare, patients navigating their health, and anyone interested in medicine. These terms provide precise descriptions of conditions, procedures, and anatomy, allowing for clearer communication in the medical field. Below is a list of 100 common medical terms, along with their explanations.

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1. Abscess – A localized collection of pus within tissue, usually due to infection.
2. Acute – A condition with a rapid onset and short duration.
3. Adrenal glands – Glands located above the kidneys that produce hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.
4. Anemia – A condition where the body has a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin.
5. Aneurysm – A bulge or ballooning in the wall of a blood vessel.
6. Angina – Chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscles.
7. Antibiotic – A medication used to treat bacterial infections.
8. Antibody – A protein produced by the immune system to neutralize pathogens.
9. Arrhythmia – An irregular heartbeat.
10. Arthritis – Inflammation of the joints, causing pain and stiffness.
11. Atherosclerosis – Hardening and narrowing of the arteries due to plaque buildup.
12. Atrophy – A decrease in the size or wasting away of a body part or tissue.
13. Benign – A non-cancerous tumor or growth.
14. Biopsy – A medical procedure in which a small sample of tissue is taken for examination.
15. Bradycardia – An abnormally slow heart rate.
16. Bronchitis – Inflammation of the bronchial tubes, often causing coughing and breathing difficulties.
17. Carcinoma – A type of cancer that begins in the skin or tissues lining organs.
18. Cardiomegaly – Enlargement of the heart.
19. Cardiomyopathy – Disease of the heart muscle that affects its ability to pump blood.
20. Catheter – A tube inserted into the body to remove or deliver fluids.
21. Chronic – A long-lasting condition that may worsen over time.
22. Cirrhosis – Scarring of the liver, often caused by long-term damage.
23. Colonoscopy – A diagnostic procedure in which a flexible camera is used to examine the colon.
24. Comorbidity – The presence of two or more diseases or medical conditions in a patient.
25. Concussion – A traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head.
26. Congenital – A condition that is present at birth.
27. Cyanosis – A bluish discoloration of the skin due to poor oxygen circulation in the blood.
28. Cyst – A closed sac-like structure filled with liquid or semi-solid material.
29. Dehydration – A condition in which the body loses more water than it takes in.
30. Dementia – A decline in cognitive function, including memory loss and impaired judgment.
31. Dermatitis – Inflammation of the skin.
32. Diabetes – A disease characterized by high blood sugar levels.
33. Dialysis – A procedure to remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys fail.
34. Diuretic – A medication that helps the body eliminate excess fluid, often used to treat high blood pressure.
35. Dysphagia – Difficulty or discomfort in swallowing.
36. Dyspnea – Shortness of breath.
37. Edema – Swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in the body’s tissues.
38. Embolism – The blockage of an artery by a blood clot or other foreign substance.
39. Endoscopy – A procedure where a flexible tube with a camera is used to view the inside of the body.
40. Epidermis – The outermost layer of the skin.
41. Epilepsy – A neurological disorder marked by recurrent seizures.
42. Erythema – Redness of the skin due to increased blood flow.
43. Fibrillation – Rapid, irregular, and unsynchronized contraction of muscle fibers, especially in the heart.
44. Fibrosis – The thickening and scarring of connective tissue, usually as a result of injury.
45. Fracture – A break in a bone.
46. Gangrene – The death of body tissue due to a lack of blood flow or infection.
47. Gastroenteritis – Inflammation of the stomach and intestines, often causing vomiting and diarrhea.
48. Glaucoma – A condition that causes damage to the eye’s optic nerve and can lead to blindness.
49. Hematoma – A localized collection of blood outside the blood vessels, often caused by injury.
50. Hematuria – Blood in the urine.
51. Hemophilia – A genetic disorder in which blood doesn’t clot normally.
52. Hepatitis – Inflammation of the liver.
53. Hernia – The protrusion of an organ or tissue through an opening in the muscle or tissue that usually contains it.
54. Hypertension – High blood pressure.
55. Hyperthyroidism – A condition where the thyroid gland is overactive, producing excess thyroid hormones.
56. Hypoglycemia – Abnormally low blood sugar levels.
57. Hypotension – Low blood pressure.
58. Hypoxia – A deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues.
59. Immunodeficiency – A state in which the immune system’s ability to fight infectious disease is compromised.
60. Inflammation – The body’s response to injury or infection, often causing redness, heat, swelling, and pain.
61. Insulin – A hormone that regulates blood sugar levels, produced by the pancreas.
62. Intubation – Insertion of a tube into the airway to assist with breathing.
63. Ischemia – A condition where blood flow (and thus oxygen) is restricted to a part of the body.
64. Jaundice – Yellowing of the skin and eyes caused by elevated bilirubin levels in the blood.
65. Keratitis – Inflammation of the cornea of the eye.
66. Leukemia – A type of cancer affecting the blood and bone marrow.
67. Lumpectomy – Surgical removal of a tumor or lump from the breast.
68. Lymphoma – A cancer of the lymphatic system.
69. Malignant – Referring to a harmful, cancerous growth or tumor.
70. Melanoma – A serious form of skin cancer.
71. Meningitis – Inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.
72. Metastasis – The spread of cancer cells from the original tumor to other parts of the body.
73. Migraine – A type of headache characterized by intense pain, often accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light.
74. Myocardial infarction – Another term for a heart attack, caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle.
75. Neoplasm – An abnormal growth of tissue, which can be benign or malignant.
76. Neuropathy – Damage or dysfunction of the nerves, often causing weakness or pain.
77. Obesity – Excessive body fat that increases the risk of health problems.
78. Oncology – The study and treatment of cancer.
79. Osteoporosis – A condition where bones become weak and brittle.
80. Palliative care – Medical care that focuses on providing relief from the symptoms of serious illness.
81. Pancreatitis – Inflammation of the pancreas.
82. Paralysis – The loss of muscle function in part of the body.
83. Pathogen – A microorganism that causes disease.
84. Pneumonia – Infection that inflames the air sacs in the lungs.
85. Polyp – A growth that develops in the lining of an organ, such as the colon.
86. Prognosis – The likely course and outcome of a disease.
87. Psychosis – A mental disorder characterized by a disconnection from reality.
88. Pulmonary embolism – A blockage in one of the pulmonary arteries in the lungs, often due to a blood clot.
89. Radiology – The use of medical imaging (like X-rays, MRIs) to diagnose and treat diseases.
90. Rheumatoid arthritis – An autoimmune disease causing inflammation in the joints.
91. Sepsis – A life-threatening condition caused by the body’s response to infection.
92. Scoliosis – A condition where the spine curves abnormally.
93. Stenosis – The abnormal narrowing of a passage in the body.
94. Thrombosis – The formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel.
95. Tonsillitis – Inflammation of the tonsils.
96. Tuberculosis (TB) – A serious infectious disease that primarily affects the lungs.
97. Ulcer – An open sore on the skin or mucous membrane.
98. Uremia – A condition involving abnormally high levels of waste products in the blood due to kidney failure.
99. Varicose veins – Swollen, twisted veins that often occur in the legs.
100. Viral load – The amount of a virus present in the bloodstream.