MedicalVocabulary.org
Medical vocabulary with 16,436 clear, complete and reliable definitions.
About MedicalVocabulary.org
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.
- 100% free
- No registration
- No intrusive ads
- Privacy by design
- Mobile friendly
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).
Contraction, uterine
The tightening and shortening of the uterine muscles. During labor, contractions accomplish two things: (1) they cause the cervix to thin and dilate (open); and (2) they aid the baby to descend into the birth canal
Read the definitionRandom terms
Show more- Neonatal intensive care unit An intensive care unit designed for premature and ill newborn babies. Abbreviated NICU. Also called a newborn…
- Chromosome inversion, paracentric The chart of the linear array of genes on a chromosome. A chromosome map can also refer to the visual…
- Muscular dystrophy, facioscapulohumeral A form of muscular dystrophy that begins before age 20 with slowly progressive weakness of the muscles of the…
- Macular Pertaining to the macula. A macula is a small spot. A macula on the skin is a small flat spot while the…
- Baseline 1. Information gathered at the beginning of a study from which variations found in the study are measured.2…
- Berlin Heart The name of a company in Berlin, Germany and of a ventricular assist device it makes. The device works by…
- Lip, cleft The presence of one or two vertical fissures (clefts) in the upper lip -- cleft lip can be on one side only…
- Alveolus One of the tiny air sacs located at the very ends of the bronchioles within the lungs where the exchange of…
- Neutropenia, severe congenital (SCN) Neutropenia, severe congenital (SCN): Children born with this condition lack neutrophils (a type of white…
- Disease, Legg-Calve-Perthes See Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease
- Spectral karyotype (SKY) Karyotype(SKY): A visualization of all of the chromosomes in the genome all together with each chromosome…
- Anorexia nervosa Anorexia nervosa: See Anorexia.