Medical terms - Letter M
1,075 terms start with the letter M.
-
Medical prefix
A prefix employed in medical terminology. Medical words are often put together, cobbled from two or more building blocks. Among these building blocks are the prefixes. Examples of prefixes used in medicine include: >…
-
Medical Repository
The first medical magazine and the first scientific journal published in the United States. The Medical Repository was founded in 1797 in New York and was published quarterly until 1824. T & J Swords in New York…
-
Medical Research Council
Although little known to the general public, the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) is a key resource for medical research. It is the world's premier biological culture repository. The ATCC assures medical and…
-
Medical research resource, ATCC as
E Culture Collection as: Although little known to the general public, the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) is a key resource for medical research. It is the world's premier biological culture repository. The ATCC…
-
Medical school
A school with a curriculum leading to a medical degree. The mission of every medical school includes medical teaching, research, and patient care. All medical schools share the goal of preparing students in the art and…
-
Medical school syndrome
A form of acute hypochondriasis that affects most people in training to be a physician. For example, when studying Hodgkin disease, a medical student feels behind their ears or neck, feels little lymph nodes (that are…
-
Medical school, first American
See: First American medical school
-
Medical scientist
A person who combines expertise in medicine and science. Medical scientists of note might, for example, include: Christian Boehmer Anfinsen, Jr., Oswald Theodore Avery, Julius Axelrod, Donald Fredrickson, Joshua…
-
Medical symbol
A staff or rod with a snake curled around it is the staff (the rod) of Aesculapius (also called Asklepios), the ancient mythical god of medicine. His Greek name was Asklepios and his Roman name was Aesculapius. In…
-
Medical word origin
See: Medical etymology
-
Medical-school syndrome
See: Medical school syndrome
-
MedicAlert
A nonprofit emergency medical information service, known for its MedicAlert jewelry, particularly the bracelet, and its 24-hour emergency response center. MedicAlert was founded by Marion and Chrissie Collins in…
-
Medicalize
To identify a condition as a disorder requiring medical treatment. The term 'medicalize' is usually used in a pejorative or disparaging sense. For example, 'The recommendation that all women take folic acid during the…
-
Medicare
>'senior citizens' -- people 65 years of age or older, >certain younger people with specific disabilities, and >people with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) -- permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant…
-
Medicare Part A
The Medicare program that covers inpatient hospital stays. Medicare is the United States government's health insurance program for the aged and some disabled persons. Medicare is currently available to people 65 and…
-
Medicare Part B
The Medicare program that covers physician and outpatient services. Medicare is the United States government's health insurance program for the aged and some disabled persons. Medicare is currently available to people…
-
Medicated stent
See: Coated stent
-
Medication
1. A drug or medicine. 2. The administration of a drug or medicine. (Note that 'medication' does not have the dangerous double meaning of 'drug.'
-
Medication, ACE-inhibitor
A drug that inhibits ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) which is important to the formation of angiotensin II. Angiotensin II causes arteries in the body to constrict and thereby raises the blood pressure. ACE…
-
Medication, anti-infective
Something capable of acting against infection, by inhibiting the spread of an infectious agent or by killing the infectious agent outright. Anti-infective is a general term that encompasses antibacterials, antibiotics…
-
Medication, anti-platelet
Platelet-blocking drugs. Drugs that, like aspirin, reduce the tendency of platelets in the blood to clump and clot
-
Medication, antibiotic
A drug used to treat bacterial infections. The original definition of an antibiotic was a substance produced by one microorganism that selectively inhibits the growth of another microorganism. However, wholly synthetic…
-
Medication, anticoagulant
A drug that is used as a 'blood-thinner' to prevent the formation of blood clots and to maintain open blood vessels. Anticoagulants have various uses. Some are used for the prophylaxis (prevention) or the treatment of…
-
Medication, antifungal
A drug used to treat fungal infections. Examples of antifungal drugs include miconazole (MONISTAT) and clotrimazole (LOTRIMIN, MYCELEX).
-
Medication, antimicrobial
A drug used to treat a microbial infection. Antimicrobial is a general term that refers to a group of drugs that includes antibiotics, antifungals, antiprotozoals, and antivirals.
-
Medication, antiprotozoal
Something that destroys protozoa or inhibits their growth and ability to reproduce. A few of the protozoa of medical importance include Plasmodium (the cause of malaria); Entamoeba histolytica (the cause of amebiasis…
-
Medication, antiviral
An drug that kills viruses or suppresses their replication and, hence, inhibits their capability to multiply and reproduce. For example, amantadine (BRAND name: SYMMETREL) is a synthetic (man- made) drug that inhibits…
-
Medication, beta-blocker
Drugs that antagonize the action of adrenaline (a beta adrenergic substance) and relieve stress to the heart muscle. Beta-blockers are often used to slow the heart rate or lower the blood pressure
-
Medication, clot-dissolving
See: Thrombolytic agent
-
Medication, generic
Drugs that act as blood vessel dilator (vasodilators) and open vessels by relaxing their muscular walls). For example, nitroglycerin is a vasodilator. So are the ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors.
-
Medication, vasodilator
Drugs that act as blood vessel dilator (vasodilators) and open vessels by relaxing their muscular walls). For example, nitroglycerin is a vasodilator. So are the ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors.
-
Medicine, adoption
Medicine for the adopted child, including pre-adoption counseling and evaluation based on a child's medical records as well as post-adoption consultations and, often, primary care of the adopted child. The field of…
-
Medicine, Chinese
See: Traditional Chinese medicine
-
Medicine, family
Also called family practice. The medical specialty which provides continuing and comprehensive health care for the individual and family. It is the specialty in breadth which integrates the biological, clinical, and…
-
Medicine, forensic
See: Forensic medicine
-
Medicine, geriatric
The branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease in older people and the problems specific to aging. Also called geriatrics. From the Greek 'geron' meaning 'old man' + 'iatreia'…
-
Medicine, homeopathic
See: Homeopathy
-
Medicine, legal
See: Legal medicine
-
Medicine, naturopathic
See: Naturopathy
-
Medicine, nuclear
See: Nuclear medicine
-
Medicine, occupational
The field of medicine encompassing diseases due to factors in the occupation of people. Occupational medicine was founded by the Italian physician Bernardino Ramazzini (1633-1714). His De Morbis Artificium (On…
-
Medicine, transfusion
Blood transfusion and blood conservation are the complementary activities that constitute the clinical arena of transfusion medicine. Blood transfusion is the transfer of blood or blood products from one person (the…
-
Medicine, travel
Travel medicine: A branch of medicine that specializes in diseases and conditions that are acquired during travel. Travelers to different countries should be aware of the potential for acquiring diseases and injury…
-
Medicins Sans Frontieres
A group which sends physicians and other health workers to some of the most destitute and dangerous parts of the world and encourages them not only to care for people, but also to condemn the injustices they encounter…
-
Medifast diet
The Medifast diet is a low-fat, low-calorie weight loss plan based upon the consumption of specific foods and beverages developed and sold by the Medifast company. The diet plan includes shakes, bars, puddings, soups…
-
Medigap
Health insurance in the US that is intended to supplement Medicare benefits and presumably to fill the gaps in healthcare coverage. See: Medigap policy
-
Medigap policy
In the US, a Medicare supplement insurance policy sold by private insurance companies to fill 'gaps' in Original Medicare Plan coverage. Except in Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin, there are 10 standardized plans…
-
Meditation
A self-directed practice for relaxing the body and calming the mind. Most meditative techniques have come to the West from Eastern religious practices, particularly India, China, and Japan, but can be found in all…
-
Mediterranean anemia
Better known today as thalassemia (or as beta thalassemia or thalassemia major). The clinical picture of this important type of anemia was first described in 1925 by the pediatrician Thomas Benton Cooley. The name…
-
Mediterranean diet
>High consumption of fruits, vegetables, bread and other cereals, potatoes, beans, nuts and seeds; >Olive oil is the key monounsaturated fat source; >Dairy products, fish and poultry are consumed in low to moderate…