3.1 Medical Terminology: Specialties & Specialists

(also recognize the parts) covering medical specialties, specialists, and related terminology from the lecture 'Specialties & Specialists'.

Specialty

A specific science, discipline, a study or subject; also referred to as a branch of medicine or surgery.

Specialist

A physician (a medical doctor) or an expert, who has special training in, and knowledge of, a particular area of medicine or medical sciences.

Family Medicine

A medical specialty within primary care that provides general health care for patients of all ages, genders, injuries, and diseases.

Family Physician

A specialist in family medicine, usually a primary care physician.

General Practitioners (GPs)

Medical doctors based in the community who treat patients with minor or chronic illnesses and refer those with urgent or serious conditions to hospitals for specialist treatment.

Paediatrics

The branch of medicine dealing with diagnosing and treating the diseases and disorders of children.

Paediatrician

A medical doctor who specializes in children and their diseases.

Paed (root)

Rearing of children.

Geriatrics

The branch of medicine dealing with diagnosing and treating the diseases and disorders of older people.

Geriatrician

An expert in the branch of medicine that deals with the health and care of old people.

Ger (root)

Old age.

Orthopaedics

The branch of medicine concerned with diagnosing, treating, preventing, and correcting deformities, disorders, and injuries of the musculoskeletal system (including surgery).

Orthopaedic Surgeon/Orthopaedist

A physician who specializes in orthopaedics.

Ortho (root)

Straight/correct.

Rheumatology

The branch of medicine that deals with studying, diagnosing, and treating the diseases of the joints, muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues.

Rheumatologist

A medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases and injuries of tendons, muscles, ligaments, connective tissues, and inherited disorders.

Rheum (root)

Flow (within a patient's body).

Neurology

The branch of medicine that deals with diagnosing and treating disorders of the nerves and the nervous system.

Neurologist

A medical doctor who specializes in neurology.

Radiology (Diagnostic Imaging)

The medical specialty that uses medical imaging technology (e.g., X-rays, CT, MRI, ultrasound) for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries.

Radiologist

A medical doctor who specializes in radiology.

Anesthesiology

The branch of medicine concerned with the administration and application of anesthesia (loss of pain/sensation) to patients before surgery, tests, and procedures.

Anesthesiologist

A medical specialist who administers anesthetics.

Anesthesia

A condition of absence of sensation; without sensation.

Psychiatry

The branch of medicine concerned with the study, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illness/mental health issues.

Psychiatrist

A medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating mental illness.

Immunology

The branch of medicine and biological sciences concerned with immunity, diagnosing, and treating the disorders of the body’s immune system (defense mechanisms).

Immunologist

A medical doctor who diagnoses, treats, manages, and prevents various immunologic conditions, including allergies, asthma, and immunodeficiency diseases.

Cardiology

The branch of medicine that deals with diagnosing and treating diseases of the heart and the cardiovascular system.

Cardiologist

A physician or surgeon qualified to practice in the field of Cardiology.

Cardi (root)

Heart.

Hematology

The branch of medicine concerned with diagnosing and treating diseases of the blood.

Hematologist

A physician who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases of the blood and blood components.

Hemat (root)

Blood.

Lymphology

A branch of medical sciences concerned with diagnosing and treating the diseases of the lymphatic system.

Lymphologist

A physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases and disorders of the lymphatic system.

Oncology

The branch of medicine concerned with studying, diagnosing, and treating tumors and cancers.

Oncologist (Cancer Specialist)

A medical doctor qualified to diagnose and treat tumors.

Pulmonology

A medical specialty that deals with diagnosing and treating diseases of the respiratory system (lungs).

Pulmonologist

A medical specialist who treats lung/chest diseases.

Pneum (root)

Air or lung.

Otorhinolaryngology (ENT)

The branch of medicine that deals with studying, diagnosing, and treating diseases of the ear, nose, and throat.

Otorhinolaryngologist

A medical doctor who studies or treats diseases of the ear, nose, and throat.

Ophthalmology

The branch of medicine concerned with the study, diagnosing, and treating disorders and diseases of the eye.

Ophthalmologist

A medical specialist in ophthalmology.

Ophthalm (root)

Eye.

Gastroenterology

The branch of medicine which deals with diagnosing and treating diseases and disorders of the digestive system (the GI tract and related organs).

Gastroenterologist

A medical doctor specialized in diagnosing and treating disorders and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and related organs.

Nephrology

The branch of medicine that deals with diagnosing and treating the diseases and conditions of the kidneys.

Nephrologist (Kidney doctor/Renal Specialist)

A medical doctor who specializes in nephrology.

Urology

The branch of medicine that deals with diagnosing and treating diseases of the male and female urinary tract system (including kidneys, ureters, urethra, bladder, prostate, and male reproductive organs).

Urologist

A specialist surgeon who diagnoses and treats diseases and disorders of the urinary tract system.

Dermatology

The branch of medicine concerned with diagnosing and treating diseases & disorders of the skin, hair, and nails.

Dermatologist

A medical doctor who specializes in dermatology.

Endocrinology

The branch of medicine that deals with diagnosing and treating diseases of the endocrine system (the hormones & hormone-secreting glands).

Endocrinologist

A medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the endocrine glands and hormones.

Gynecology

The branch of physiology and medicine that deals with diagnosing and treating diseases affecting the female reproductive systems.

Gynecologist

A physician or surgeon qualified to practice in gynecology.

Obstetrics

The branch of medicine and surgery concerned with childbirth and midwifery (i.e., the medical care of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and after birth).

Obstetrician

A physician or surgeon qualified to practice in obstetrics.

Psychology

The scientific study of the human mind and its functions, especially those affecting human behaviors.

Psychologist

An expert or specialist in psychology.

Chiropractic

Deals with diagnosing and treating neuromuscular disorders and misalignments through manipulation (manual adjustment) of the spine.

Chiropractor

A healthcare professional who specializes in diagnosing and manipulative treatment of misalignments and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Chiro (root)

Hand.

Pract (root)

To do/to act (from Greek 'praktikós').

Audiology

The branch of science and medicine concerned with the sense of hearing; deals with diagnosing and treating hearing disorders.

Audiologist

A healthcare professional trained to evaluate hearing loss and related disorders, including balance disorders and tinnitus (ringing ears).

Dentistry

The branch of medical sciences concerned with diagnosing and treating diseases and conditions of the teeth, gums, oral cavity (mouth), and surrounding structures.

Dentist

A healthcare professional who is qualified to treat diseases and conditions that affect the teeth and gums, especially the repair and extraction of teeth and the insertion of artificial ones.

Pharmacology

The science of drugs and medications, including their origin, composition, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, therapeutic use, and toxicology.

Pharmacist (Chemist)

A healthcare professional who specializes in the preparation, dispensing, and management of medications.

Pharmakon (root)

Drug (ancient Greek word).

Epidemiology

The study of the distribution and determinants of health and diseases or disorders in a defined population, and how to prevent and control them; the foundation of public health.

Epidemiologist

A public health worker who investigates patterns and causes of disease and injury.

Demi (root)

People (from Greek 'demos').

Radiography

The science of using radiation to provide images of tissues, organs, bones, and vessels that comprise the human body.

Radiographer

A medical technician who operates equipment to produce radiographic images.

Suffix -logy / -iatry / -practic / -iatrics / -istry / -ics

Suffixes that indicate a medical specialty.

Suffix -logist / -iatrist / -practor / -iatrician / -ist

Suffixes that indicate a medical specialist.