Principles of Medical Laboratory Science 1 – Introduction

Vocabulary flashcards covering key figures, inventions, institutions and milestones from the lecture on the history and principles of Medical Laboratory Science.

Medical Laboratory Science

The collection, preparation, investigation and analysis of human biological samples to support diagnosis, management, treatment and health maintenance.

Four Humors

Blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile—body fluids used by Hippocrates to assess disease qualitatively.

Hippocrates

Greek physician who promoted urine testing, lung auscultation and observation of outward appearances for diagnosis via the four-humor theory.

Galen

Physician who described diabetes as a “diarrhea of urine” and linked fluid intake to urine volume.

Water Casting (Uroscopy)

Medieval practice of diagnosing disease by visual examination of a patient’s urine.

Spirometer

Device invented by John Hutchinson (1840s) to measure lung vital capacity.

Sphygmomanometer

Blood-pressure measuring device created by Jules Hèrisson in the 19th century.

Stethoscope

First major diagnostic instrument (1816) invented by René Laënnec for listening to heart and lung sounds.

Compound Microscope

Multilens microscope first built by Hans & Zacharias Janssen (1590); Antonie van Leeuwenhoek produced the first practical medical model.

Ophthalmoscope

Instrument invented by Hermann von Helmholtz (1851) to visualize the interior of the eye.

Laryngoscope

Two-mirror device designed by Manuel Garcia (1854) to observe the living larynx and glottis.

X-ray Machine

Imaging device discovered by Wilhelm Roentgen (1895) that visualizes internal structures without surgery.

Electrocardiograph (ECG)

Instrument created by Willem Einthoven (1895) to record the heart’s electrical activity.

Kenny Method

Elizabeth Kenny’s 1910 hot-pack and muscle-manipulation treatment that pioneered modern physical therapy for polio.

Sylvia Stretcher

Shock-transport stretcher (1927) developed following the Kenny Method innovations.

Drinker Respirator (Iron Lung)

Negative-pressure ventilator invented by Philip Drinker (1929) for paralytic poliomyelitis patients.

Cardiac Catheterization

Heart-catheter technique first performed by Werner Forssman (1929) enabling intravascular diagnosis.

Angiography

Radiographic imaging of vessels using injected dye, advanced 1930-40 by Moniz, Reboul & Rousthoi; validated in humans by Cournand (1941).

William Pepper Laboratory

Clinical laboratory opened at University of Pennsylvania (1895) highlighting the service role of lab medicine.

John Kolmer

Advocate (1918) for national certification of medical technologists; authored “The Demand for and Training of Laboratory Technicians.”

American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)

Professional body founded in 1922 to foster cooperation between physicians and clinical pathologists and establish ethics.

American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS)

Organization formed in 1933 (originally ASMT) recognizing non-physician laboratory scientists as autonomous professionals.

Hospital Real

First Spanish hospital in the Philippines (1565, Cebu; later Manila) serving military patients.

San Lazaro Hospital

Hospital founded by Franciscans (1578) in Manila for the poor and lepers.

University of Santo Tomas (UST)

Dominican-founded university (1611) that established the Philippines’ first faculties of pharmacy and medicine (1871).

Bureau of Government Laboratories (1901)

U.S.-established Philippine bureau with chemistry, serum and science sections for vaccine production and research.

Manila Public Health Laboratory

First Philippine clinical lab, set up by U.S. Army on Quiricada St. during WWII; reopened 1945 by Dr. Pio de Roda.

Pio de Roda

Physician who revived the Manila Public Health Laboratory (1945) and began training programs for laboratory workers.

Prudencia Sta. Ana

Co-developer of a six-month training syllabus (post-1945) for Filipino laboratory workers.

BS Medical Technology (Philippines, 1954)

Four-year degree formally approved by the Bureau of Private Education, marking academic recognition of the field.

Willa Hedrick

Founder of the first Philippine School of Medical Technology (1954) at Manila Sanitarium and Hospital.

Jesse Umali

First graduate (1956) of the Philippine medical technology program; later an OB-gynecologist in the U.S.

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek

“Father of Microbiology” noted for microscope improvements and first observations of microorganisms.

Edward Jenner

Physician who discovered smallpox vaccination, laying groundwork for immunology.

Louis Pasteur

Scientist who proved germ theory, developed vaccines for anthrax & rabies and invented pasteurization.

Karl Landsteiner

Discoverer of the ABO blood group system, enabling safe transfusion practices.

James Westgard

Introduced statistical “Westgard Rules” for clinical laboratory quality control.

Kary Mullis

Inventor of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to amplify DNA.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Technique that exponentially replicates DNA segments, revolutionizing diagnostics and research.

Westgard Rules

Set of multirule criteria for interpreting quality-control data in clinical labs.

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

Fertility technique developed by André van Steirteghem involving direct sperm injection into an oocyte.

First Human Stem Cell Line

Pluripotent cell line derived by James Thomson (1998), enabling regenerative medicine research.

Steam Sterilization (Ernst von Bergmann)

Introduction of autoclaving to surgery, ensuring aseptic technique.

August von Wassermann

Developer of the first serologic test for syphilis (1906).

Baruch Samuel Blumberg

Scientist who developed the first Hepatitis B vaccine.

Jonas Salk

Creator of the inactivated poliomyelitis vaccine (1955).