MedicalVocabulary.org
Medical vocabulary with 16,436 clear, complete and reliable definitions.
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The most complete online medical dictionary: 16,436 terms covering anatomy, physiology, pathologies, diagnostic exams, pharmacology and every clinical specialty.
Designed for 3 kinds of users:
- Patients and family who want to understand a diagnosis, a medical report or instructions from a doctor.
- Students of medicine, nursing, physiotherapy and the health professions, dealing with technical terminology.
- Doctors, pharmacists and healthcare workers who need a quick and reliable reference.
Definitions are written in clear, accessible language while keeping the rigor required for professional use. Each term has a dedicated URL, instant autocomplete search, and can be shared on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and via email with one click.
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Disclaimer: the content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice. If you have doubts about your health, always consult a qualified professional. In case of emergency call your local emergency number (911 in the US, 112 in the EU).
Prophylactic
A preventive measure. The word comes from the Greek for 'an advance guard,' an apt term for a measure taken to fend off a disease or another unwanted consequence. A prophylactic is a medication or a treatment designed and used to prevent a…
Read the definitionRandom terms
Show more- Pucker, macular See: Macular pucker
- Microabscess A tiny abscess. A small accumulation of pus
- Familial cancer Cancer or a predisposition (tendency) to it that runs in families.
- Globus pallidus A pale-appearing spherical area in the brain. The globus pallidus is part of what is called the lentiform…
- Hypochondria 1. Synonym for the disorder officially called hypochondriasis. 2. The plural of hypochondrium, referring to…
- Cerebellar Pertaining to the cerebellum, the part of the brain in the back of the head between the cerebrum and the…
- Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) A life support system that circulates the blood through an oxygenating system. ECMO is like a…
- Cal (Calorie) Italian-born American oncologist who was a leader in developing and testing drugs to treat Hodgkin's…
- Opportunistic infection An infection that occurs because of a weakened immune system. Opportunistic infections are a particular…
- YAC YAC stands for yeast artificial chromosome, a vector (carrier) created and used in the laboratory to clone…
- Test, pharmacologic stress There are a diversity of pharmacologic stress tests. Here this refers specifically to a pharmacologic cardiac…
- NEJM The New England Journal of Medicine