Chapter 2: Medical Science: History and Practice

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

series of illnesses that occur as a result of infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes the immune system to break down

anesthesia

medication that causes the partial or complete loss of sensation

anthrax

deadly infectious disease caused by Bacillus anthracis

autopsy

examination of the organs and tissues of a deceased body to determine cause of death

bariatrics

science of obesity

cadavers

dead human bodies used to study human anatomy

caduceus

recognized symbol for medicine; depicts a healing staff with two snakes coiled around it

certification

issuance by an official body or professional organization of a certificate and credentials to an individual who has met the education and experience standards of that organization

chemotherapy

use of chemicals, including drugs, to treat or control infections and diseases such as cancer

endocrinology

branch of medicine and biology that deals with the endocrine system, the cells, glands, and tissues that secrete hormones

hospice

facility or company that provides an interdisciplinary program of care and supportive services for terminally ill patients and their families

human genome project

publicly funded international research project (completed in 2001) to sequence and identify human genes and record their positions on chromosomes

immune function

ability of the body to protect itself from disease

immunology

the study of immunity, the resistance to or protection from disease

inpatient licensure

services provided to patients who are in a facility overnight or on a long-term basis

medical privilege

physician is granted rights to practice medicine in a particular hospital or other health care facility

microbes

one-celled forms of life, such as bacteria

morbidity

the rate or number of people who have a disease or illness

mortality

the rate or number of people who suffer death in a particular circumstance

nutrition

the effects of vitamins, minerals, and food in the body

oncology

branch of medicine dealing with malignant neoplasms or tumors

osteopath

medical professional who places great emphasis on the relationship between the musculoskeletal system and the organs of the body

outpatient

services provided to patients on a walk-in basis when no overnight stay is required

pasteurization

birth

patient-centered medical home (PCMH)

a facility that helps to streamline the health care needs of a patient by providing a cooperative team of health care specialists in one convenient location

registration

being entered on a list of professionals recognized as qualified by an organization or association in a specific health care field that administers examinations, maintains a list of qualified individuals, or both

stem cell

undifferentiated cell that can give rise to other cells of the same type or from which specialized cells can develop

syphilis

an infectious chronic venereal disease