Medical English Vocabulary: Anatomy, Dermatology, and Healthcare Roles

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering medical terminology, anatomical structures, physiological systems, clinical conditions, and healthcare professions.

freckle

A small pale brown spot on the skin, usually on the face, especially of a person with pale skin.

mole

A small dark spot or lump (= raised area) on a person's skin.

wart

A small hard lump (= raised area) which grows on the skin, often on the face and hands, caused by a virus.

acne

A skin disease common in young people, in which small red spots appear on the face and neck.

eczema

A medical condition that makes your skin dry, sore and itchy.

scar

A mark left on part of the body after an injury, such as a cut, has healed.

scab

A hard covering of dried blood that forms over a wound to cover and protect it as it heals.

goosebumps

(UK also goose pimples) Small raised areas that appear on the skin because of cold, fear or excitement.

skin graft

A piece of skin taken from one part of the body and used to replace damaged skin in another part.

strawberry mark

A permanent dark red mark on a person's skin which has existed since birth.

rash

An area of small red spots on your skin, caused by an illness or allergic reaction to sth that you have touched, eaten etc.

boil

A painful lump on your skin that has become infected and is filled with pus.

blister

A swollen area on your skin that is full of a clear liquid and caused by being burned or rubbed.

capillary

The smallest type of blood vessel, with a wall that is only one cell thick; carries blood to and from individual cells in your body.

connective tissue

The parts of your body that connect or support organs and other parts of the body.

sebaceous gland

An organ in your body that allows a type of oil called sebum to flow onto your skin and hair to keep them soft.

benign

A benign lump in your body is not cancer and will not kill you.

malignant

A malignant tumour consists of cancer cells that can spread in the body.

to excise

To remove something harmful that is growing inside a person’s body, especially by cutting it out.

subcutaneous

Under the skin (e.g., subcutaneous fat/muscle).

cranium

The hard bone case in animals and humans, which gives the head its shape and protects the brain.

scalp

The skin on the top of a person's head where hair grows.

iris

The coloured circular part of an eye surrounding the black pupil (= central part).

pupil

The circular black area in the centre of your eye, through which light enters.

larynx

Informally known as the voice box; a muscular hollow organ between the nose and the lungs which contains the tissue that moves very quickly to create the human voice and many animal sounds.

collarbone

Specialized term: clavicle; a bone between your shoulder and neck on each side of your body.

rib cage

The structure of ribs that protects your heart and lungs in your chest.

navel

Informally known as the belly button; the small round part in the middle of the stomach which is left after the umbilical cord has been cut at birth.

spine

The line of bones down the centre of the back that provides support for the body and protects the spinal cord.

vertebra

One of the small bones that form the spine (plural: vertebrae).

intervertebral disk

Any of the disks between the bodies of adjacent vertebrae.

cartilage

A type of strong stretchy tissue found in humans in the joints and other places such as the nose, throat and ears.

femur

The long bone in the upper part of the leg (plural: femurs or femora).

kneecap

Specialized term: patella; the bone at the front of the knee joint.

Achilles tendon

A small muscular cord just above the heel, connecting the heel bone to the muscles in the lower part of the leg.

cyst

A round growth, just under the skin or deeper in the body, which contains liquid.

cerebrum

The front part of the brain, which is involved with thought, decision, emotion and character (plural: cerebrums or cerebra).

cortex

The outer layer, especially of the brain and other organs (plural: cortices).

meninges

The three membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.

spleen

An organ near the stomach which produces and cleans the body's blood.

pharynx

The soft part at the top of the throat which connects the mouth and nose to the oesophagus and the larynx.

oesophagus (BE) / esophagus (US)

The tube which takes food from the mouth to the stomach.

pancreas

An organ in the body that produces insulin and substances which help to digest food so that it can be used by the body.

gall bladder

A small bag-like bodily organ connected to the liver which stores bile (= a bitter liquid that helps to digest food).

diaphragm

The muscle which separates the chest from the lower part of the body.

uterus

Also called womb; the organ in the body of a woman or other female mammal in which a baby develops before birth (plural: uteri or uteruses).

cervix

The narrow lower part of the womb, which leads into the vagina (plural: cervixes or cervices).

pacemaker

A small device that is put inside someone's chest in order to help their heart beat at the correct speed.

pulmonary

Relating to the lungs (= organs used for breathing).

cusp

A fold or flap of a cardiac valve.

myocardial infarction

A heart attack.

contagious

Infectious.

bereavement

State of having lost someone important through death.

to impinge on

To influence something, often causing problems by limiting it in some way.

oncologist

A specialist who diagnoses and treats benign and malignant tumors.

paediatrician

A doctor who treats diseases of children.

ophthalmologist

A doctor who treats eye disorders surgically and medically.

anaesthesiologist

A medical specialist who administers agents for loss of sensation.

nephrologist

A doctor who treats kidney diseases.

thoracic surgeon

A surgeon who performs surgery on chest organs.

otorhinolaryngologist

A doctor who treats ear, nose and throat disorders.

obstetrician

A doctor who treats pregnant women and helps to deliver babies.

haematologist

A specialist who treats blood diseases.

pathologist

A specialist who diagnoses diseases by analysing cells.

gastroenterologist

A doctor who treats diseases of the stomach and intestines.

district nurse

A healthcare professional who cares for people in a certain area, often by visiting them at home.

occupational therapist

A therapist who treats mental or physical patients by making them do activities.

registrar

A fully qualified doctor training to become a consultant.