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May 23, 2013


Doctors: Specialties and Training Glossary of Terms

The following are health and medical definitions of terms that appear in the Doctors: Specialties and Training article.

Allergy: A misguided reaction to foreign substances by the immune system, the body system ...

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Allopathic: Pertaining to allopathy (conventional medicine). The term was coined in 1842 b...

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American Medical Association: The AMA. The AMA's mission statement proclaims:

Anatomy: The study of human or animal form, by observation or examination of the living be...

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Anesthesiology: The branch of medicine specializing in the use of drugs or other agents th...

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Biochemistry: The chemistry of biology, the application of the tools and concepts of chemi...

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Board certified: In medicine, a description for a physician who has taken and passed a med...

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Board eligible: In medicine, a description for a physician who has completed the requireme...

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Cardiology: The study and treatment of heart disorders.

Cerebrovascular: Pertaining to the blood vessels and, especially, the arteries that supply...

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Chest: The area of the body located between the neck and the abdomen. The chest contains t...

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Colon: The long, coiled, tubelike organ that removes water from digested food. The remaini...

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Critical care: The specialized care of patients whose conditions are life-threatening and ...

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Dementia: Significant loss of intellectual abilities, such as memory capacity, that is sev...

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Dermatology: 1. The branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis, treatment, and...

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Ear: The hearing organ. There are three sections of the ear, according to the anatomy tex...

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EEG: Electroencephalogram.

Elective: In medicine, something chosen (elected). An elective procedure is one that is ch...

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Endocrinology: The study of the medical aspects of hormones, including diseases and condit...

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ENT: 1. Abbreviation for ears, nose and throat. A field of medicine also called ot...

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Epilepsy (seizure disorder): When nerve cells in the brain fire electrical impulses...

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Family practice: The medical specialty which provides continuing and comprehensive health ...

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Forensic: Dealing with the application of scientific knowledge to legal problems and legal...

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Gastroenterology: The medical specialty devoted to the study, diagnosis and treatment of d...

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Genetics: The scientific study of heredity. Genetics pertains to humans and all other orga...

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Geriatrics: The branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention ...

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Glaucoma: A common eye condition in which the fluid pressure inside the eyes rises becaus...

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Gynecology: The branch of medicine that is particularly concerned with the health of the f...

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Headache: A pain in the head with the pain being above the eyes or the ears, behind the he...

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Hematology: The diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases of the blood and bone mar...

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Histology: The study of the form of structures seen under the microscope. Also called mic...

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Immunology: The study of all aspects of the immune system, including its structure and fun...

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Infertility: Diminished or absent ability to conceive and bear offspring. A couple is cons...

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Internal medicine: The medical specialty dedicated to the diagnosis and medical treatment ...

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Interventional: Pertaining to the act of intervening, interfering or interceding with the ...

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Medical journals: In 1665 the Royal Society in England published one of the first 2 scient...

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Medical school: A school with a curriculum leading to a medical degree. The mission of eve...

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MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging.

National board exams: The National board exams in medicine refer to the United States Medi...

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Neonatology: The art and science of medical care for newborns.

Nephrology: The art and science of the care of the kidneys.

Neurological: Having to do with the nerves or the nervous system as, for example, a neurol...

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Neurology: The medical specialty concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of disorders o...

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Neuromuscular: Pertaining to both nerves and muscles, as in neuromuscular blockade by an a...

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Neuroradiology: The field within radiology that specializes in the use of radioactive subs...

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Nose: The external midline projection from the face. The purpose of the nose is to warm, c...

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Nuclear medicine: The branch of medicine concerned with the use of radioisotopes in the di...

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Nutrition: 1) The science or practice of taking in and utilizing foods. 2) A nourishing ...

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Obstetrics: The art and science of managing pregnancy, labor, and the puerperium (the time...

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Oculoplastics: Eye plastic and reconstructive surgery., a specialized area of ophthalmolog...

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Oncology: The field of medicine that is devoted to cancer. Clinical oncology consists of t...

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Ophthalmology: The art and science of eye ?medicine.

Otolaryngology: A medical and surgical specialty concerned with the diagnosis, management,...

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Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

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Pathology: The study of disease. Pathology has been defined as "that branch of medicine...

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Pediatric: Pertaining to children.

Pediatrics: The field of medicine that is concerned with the health of infants, children, ...

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Pharmacy: A location where prescription medications are sold. A pharmacy is constantly sup...

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Physiology: The study of how living organisms function, including such processes as nutrit...

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Plastic surgery: A surgical specialty that is dedicated to reconstruction of facial and bo...

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Psychiatry: The medical specialty that is concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, and tr...

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Pulmonology: The study and science of the anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the lungs....

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Radiation: 1. Rays of energy. Gamma rays and X-rays are two of the types of energy ...

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Radiology: The medical specialty concerned with radiation for the diagnosis and treatment ...

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Retina: The retina is the nerve layer that lines the back of the eye, senses light, and c...

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Rheumatology: A subspecialty of internal medicine that involves the nonsurgical evaluation...

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Rounds: The act of seeing patients in the hospital or another in-patient setting.

Sleep: The body's rest cycle.

Spine: 1) The column of bone known as the vertebral column, which surrounds and protects ...

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Stroke: The sudden death of brain cells due to lack of oxygen, caused by blockage of blood...

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Surgery: The branch of medicine that employs operations in the treatment of disease or inj...

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Thoracic: Pertaining to the chest. For example, the thoracic aorta is the part of the aort...

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Throat: The throat is the anterior (front) portion of the neck beginning at the back of th...

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Toxicology: The study of the nature, effects, and detection of poisons (toxins) and the tr...

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Transplant: The grafting of a tissue from one place to another, just as in botany a bu...

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Trauma: A physical or emotional injury.

Ultrasound: High-frequency sound waves. Ultra-sound waves can be bounced off tissues by us...

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Vascular: Relating to blood vessels. For example, the vascular system in the body includes...

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