Doctors: Specialties and Training Glossary of Terms

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

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

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...

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

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

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

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

Cardiology: The study and treatment of heart disorders.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

EEG: Electroencephalogram.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging.

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

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...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ophthalmology: The art and science of eye ?medicine.

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

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

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

Pediatric: Pertaining to children.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 ...

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trauma: A physical or emotional injury.

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

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