Basic Medical English

Learning path · 10 study sets · 500 words · English vocabulary · Created by Openquiz Team

A learning roadmap of 10 sets of medical English vocabulary, helping learners use English effectively in hospital and healthcare environments.

Study sets in this learning path

Body organs (50 words)
- heart /hɑ:rt/ — the organ that pumps blood
- brain /breɪn/ — the organ that controls the body
- lungs /lʌŋz/ — the organs used for breathing
- stomach /'stʌmək/ — the organ that digests food
- liver /'lɪvər/ — the organ that cleans the blood
- kidney /'kɪdni/ — the organs that remove waste from blood
- intestine /ɪn'testɪn/ — the long tube in the body that digests food and absorbs nutrients
- skin /skɪn/ — the outer covering of the body
- bone /boʊn/ — hard parts that support the body
- muscle /'mʌsəl/ — tissues that help the body move
Symptoms and manifestations (50 words)
- fever /'fi:vər/ — a fever
- headache /'hedeɪk/ — a headache
- cough /kɒf/ — a cough
- sore throat /sɔ:r θrəʊt/ — a sore throat
- runny nose /'rʌni nəʊz/ — a runny nose
- stomachache /'stʌməkeɪk/ — a stomachache
- nausea /'nɔ:ziə/ — feeling like you will throw up
- vomiting /'vɒmɪtɪŋ/ — throwing up food from the stomach
- dizziness /'dɪzɪnɪs/ — feeling dizzy
- fatigue /fə'ti:ɡ/ — feeling tired
Common diseases (51 words)
- epilepsy /'ɛpɪlɛpsi/ — a brain illness that causes sudden seizures
- flu /flu:/ — a common sickness with fever, cough, and body aches
- cold /kəʊld/ — a mild illness with a runny nose and sneezing
- diabetes /,daɪə'bi:ti:z/ — a disease that affects how the body controls sugar
- hypertension /,haɪpər'tɛnʃən/ — when blood pressure is too high
- pneumonia /nju:'məʊniə/ — a lung infection that makes breathing hard
- asthma /'æsmə/ — a lung condition that makes breathing difficult
- arthritis /ɑ:'θraɪtɪs/ — a condition that causes painful, stiff joints
- cancer /'kænsər/ — a disease where cells grow out of control
- stroke /stroʊk/ — sudden brain damage from blocked blood flow
Basic medical instruments (49 words)
- stethoscope /'steθ.ə.skəʊp/ — a tool doctors use to listen to the body
- thermometer /θə'mɒm.ɪ.tər/ — a tool used to measure body temperature
- syringe /sɪ'rɪndʒ/ — a tool used to inject or draw liquid
- needle /'ni:.dl/ — a sharp tip used for injections
- bandage /'bæn.dɪdʒ/ — cloth used to cover and protect wounds
- scalpel /'skæl.pəl/ — a small knife used in surgery
- tweezers /'twi:.zəz/ — a tool used to pick up small objects
- cotton swab /'kɒt.ən swɒb/ — a small stick with cotton on the ends
- gloves /ɡlʌvz/ — coverings for the hands that keep them clean and protected
- mask /mɑ:sk/ — a covering worn over the nose and mouth to prevent infection
Hospital equipment (49 words)
- X-ray machine /'ɛks reɪ mə,ʃi:n/ — a machine that takes X-ray pictures of the body
- ventilator /'vɛntɪleɪtər/ — a machine that helps a person breathe
- blood pressure monitor /blʌd 'prɛʃər 'mɒnɪtər/ — a device that checks blood pressure
- hospital bed /'hɒspɪtl bɛd/ — a bed for patients in a hospital
- infusion pump /ɪn'fju:ʒən pʌmp/ — a machine that slowly puts fluid into the body
- defibrillator /dɪ'fɪbrɪleɪtər/ — a machine that restarts the heart with electricity
- electrocardiogram machine /ɪ,lɛktrəʊ'kɑ:diəɡræm mə'ʃi:n/ — a machine that records heart activity
- ultrasound machine /'ʌltrəsaʊnd mə,ʃi:n/ — a machine that shows images inside the body
- oxygen tank /'ɒksɪdʒən tæŋk/ — a tank that supplies oxygen
- syringe /sɪ'rɪndʒ/ — a tool used to inject medicine
Medical examination process (49 words)
- reception /rɪ'sepʃən/ — the area where patients arrive
- appointment /ə'pɔɪntmənt/ — a scheduled doctor visit
- patient /'peɪʃənt/ — a person receiving medical care
- register /'redʒɪstər/ — to enter your name and details in a system
- form /fɔ:rm/ — a form to fill in personal details
- identification /aɪ,dentɪfɪ'keɪʃən/ — official ID papers
- health insurance /hɛlθ ɪn'ʃʊərəns/ — insurance for medical care
- medical record /'medɪkəl 'rɛkərd/ — a patient’s medical record
- vital signs /'vaɪtəl saɪnz/ — basic body health measurements
- temperature /'tɛmpə,reɪtʃər/ — how hot or cold the body is
Treatment and care (50 words)
- treatment /'tri:tmənt/ — care given to cure or manage an illness
- patient /'peɪʃənt/ — person receiving medical care
- injection /ɪn'dʒɛkʃən/ — a shot or injection
- infusion /ɪn'fju:ʒən/ — giving fluids through a vein
- emergency /ɪ'mɜ:rdʒənsi/ — a serious and urgent situation
- monitor /'mɒnɪtər/ — watching closely
- recovery /rɪ'kʌvəri/ — getting better again
- diagnosis /,daɪəɡ'nəʊsɪs/ — finding out what illness someone has
- surgery /'sɜ:rdʒəri/ — medical operation
- discharge /'dɪstʃɑ:rdʒ/ — let a patient leave the hospital
Medicines and pharmaceuticals (51 words)
- tablet /'tæblɪt/ — solid medicine pressed into a flat shape
- capsule /'kæpsju:l/ — medicine in a small shell that you swallow
- syrup /'sɪrəp/ — liquid medicine with a sweet taste
- injection /ɪn'dʒekʃən/ — medicine put into the body with a needle
- ointment /'ɔɪntmənt/ — medicine rubbed on the skin
- antibiotic /,æntɪbaɪ'ɒtɪk/ — medicine that kills bacteria
- analgesic /,ænæl'dʒi:zɪk/ — medicine that eases pain
- antacid /ænt'æsɪd/ — medicine that lowers stomach acid
- antipyretic /,æntipaɪ'rɛtɪk/ — medicine that reduces fever
- antiseptic /,æntɪ'sɛptɪk/ — substance that kills germs
Prevention and disease prevention (49 words)
- vaccination /,væksɪ'neɪʃən/ — giving a vaccine to prevent disease
- immunity /ɪ'mju:nɪti/ — the body's ability to fight disease
- hygiene /'haɪdʒi:n/ — keeping clean to stay healthy
- handwashing /'hænd,wɒʃɪŋ/ — washing hands to prevent illness
- disinfection /,dɪsɪn'fekʃən/ — killing germs
- sterilization /,stɛrɪlaɪ'zeɪʃən/ — removing all germs completely
- quarantine /'kwɒrɒnti:n/ — separating to stop disease spread
- isolation /,aɪsə'leɪʃən/ — keeping sick people away from others
- prevention /prɪ'vɛnʃən/ — stopping disease before it starts
- public health /,pʌblɪk 'hɛlθ/ — the health of all people in a community
Communication with patients (52 words)
- symptom /'sɪmptəm/ — a sign of illness
- pain /peɪn/ — the feeling of being hurt in your body
- dizzy /'dɪzi/ — feeling unsteady, as if everything is spinning
- nausea /'nɔ:ziə/ — feeling like you will vomit
- vomit /'vɒmɪt/ — throwing up
- fever /'fi:vər/ — high body temperature
- injury /'ɪndʒəri/ — harm or damage to the body
- allergy /'ælərdʒi/ — a bad reaction to something
- appointment /ə'pɔɪntmənt/ — a scheduled doctor visit
- check-up /'tʃek ʌp/ — a health check

Basic Medical English

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