Medical, Anatomical, and Health Vocabulary

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering human anatomy, body idioms, general and emergency medical concepts, infectious and chronic diseases, first aid equipment, medical specialists, and dentistry.

pupil

the circular black area in the centre of an eye, through which light enters

iris

the coloured circular part of that eye that surrounds the black pupil (= central part)

pelvis

the bones that form a bowl-shaped structure in the area below the waist at the top of the legs, and to which the leg bones and spine are joined

kidney

either of a pair of small organs in the body that take away waste matter from the blood to produce urine

abdomen

the lower part of a person's or animal's body, containing the stomach, bowels, and other organs, or the end of an insect's body

Adam's apple

the protrusion in the neck formed by the angle of the thyroid cartilage surrounding the larynx, typically visible in men and less so in women

to dig one's heels in

to stubbornly refuse to change your mind, plans, or opinions

hard to stomach

to be able to accept an unpleasant idea or watch something unpleasant

rule of thumb

a practical and approximate way of doing or measuring something

to toe the line

to do what you are ordered or expected to do

to get smth off one's chest

to tell someone about something that has been worrying you or making you feel guilty for a long time

to pay lip service to

to say that you agree with something but do nothing to support it

elbow grease

a lot of physical effort

a blister

a painful swelling on the skin that contains liquid, caused usually by continuous rubbing, especially on your foot, or by burning

terminal disease/condition

an incurable medical condition that will progress and eventually result in death

malpractice

failure to act correctly or legally when doing your job,

drug trial

a scientific study in humans to test if a new medicine is safe, effective, and what its side effects are

ache (n.)

a discomfort that continues for some time, usually associated with a specific body part

pain (n.)

stronger, more sudden, more difficult to ignore

disease

a condition that has established reasons behind it

malaria

a disease that you can get from the bite of a particular type of mosquito that causes periods of fever and makes you shiver and feel very cold

tuberculosis

a serious infectious disease that usually affects the lungs, causing coughing, fever, and difficulty breathing

cholera

a serious infection of the bowels caused by drinking infected water or eating infected food, causing diarrhoea, vomiting, and often death

pneumonia

a serious illness in which one or both lungs become red and swollen and filled with liquid

appendicitis

an illness in which the appendix is infected and painful and usually needs to be removed in an operation

diabetes

a disease in which the body cannot control the level of sugar in the blood

high blood pressure

a medical condition in which the force of the blood against the walls of the arteries as the blood travels through them is greater than is considered healthy

anaemia

a medical condition in which there are not enough red blood cells in the blood

gout

a painful disease that makes the joints, especially the feet, knees, and hands, swell

stroke

a sudden change in the blood supply to a part of the brain, sometimes causing a loss of the ability to move particular parts of the body

inflammatory disease

any medical condition characterized by abnormal or persistent inflammation in the body, which can be triggered by the immune system mistakenly attacking healthy tissues, infections, or toxins

acute illness

a health condition that develops quickly and lasts only a short amount of time

clinical symptom

a sign of a disease that can be observed or reported by a patient and is used to assess their health

24-hour flu (bug)

An informal and medically inaccurate term for gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the stomach and intestines that causes vomiting and diarrhea.

eating disorder

A mental health condition involving unhealthy patterns of eating and an unhealthy relationship with food, weight, or body image.

laceration

a tear, rip, or deep cut in the skin

activated charcoal

a type of charcoal (= a hard, black substance similar to coal) that has been treated so that other substances stick to it. It is used to clean unwanted substances from air or water, and as a medicine

trauma dressing

an all-in-one medical device designed to control severe, life-threatening bleeding from traumatic injuries

a finger splint

a rigid or semi-rigid medical device made of metal, plastic, foam, or fabric designed to immobilize, protect, and support injured or fractured fingers

the pit (slang)

the part of a hospital where people go when they are ill or injured and need treatment urgently

febrile

having or showing the symptoms of a fever

an I.V

a piece of medical equipment that is used to put a liquid, such as medicine or blood, through a tube into a patient’ s vein

to transfuse blood

to transfer donated blood or blood components (such as red blood cells, plasma, or platelets) directly into a person's bloodstream through a vein

stat

immediately, without delay

a dermatologist

a doctor who studies and treats skin diseases and conditions

a neurologist

a doctor who specializes in treating diseases of the nervous system

an oncologist

a doctor who specializes in the study and treatment of tumours and cancer

an otolaryngologist

a doctor who specializes in the study and treatment of diseases of the ear, nose, and throat

a chiropractor

a health professional who treats conditions affecting the nervous system and musculoskeletal system, especially by manipulating the spine and other joint

an endocrinologist

a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and management of hormonal conditions

a gastroenterologist

a doctor who specializes in digestive diseases/ disorders

to write out/to give a prescription

To complete an official note authorizing a patient to obtain a specific medicine.

to make a diagnosis

to identify the nature of an illness, medical condition, or problem by examining the symptoms, conducting medical tests, or analyzing relevant data

be as fit as a fiddle

to be very healthy and strong

be on one's last legs

to be exhausted

molar teeth

large tooth at the back of the mouth used for grinding food

incisors

the sharp teeth at the front of the mouth that cut food when you bite into it

tooth enamel

a thin outer covering of the tooth

a root canal

a treatment for a tooth where the infected roots are removed and replaced by a hard substance

dental plaque

a soft, sticky, colorless or pale-yellow film of bacteria, food particles, and saliva that constantly forms on teeth

an orthodontist

a person whose job is to correct the position of the teeth

a dental bridge

fixed, non-removable prosthetic device that replaces one or more missing teeth by anchoring an artificial tooth to your natural teeth or to dental implants on either side of the gap