Medicine & Public Health Through Time - Key Terminology
- Created by: Claire Louise Harrington-Capp
- Created on: 31-05-10 14:00
We've been given an awful lot of handouts with different keywords and meanings, so I thought I'd put them all together in like one big GIANT, glossary, aha. :)
A
abscess - a collection of pus caused by an infection
AD - anno domini, after the birth of jesus
ague - an old fashioned term for any disease causing a fever
ailment - an illness that is not serious
amputation - the removal of a limb by surgery
amulet - a charm that the wearer believes gives protection from disease
anaesthetic - a drug given to produce unconsciousness before and during surgery
anatomy - the study of the structure of the body
antibiotics - a group of drugs used to treat infections caused by bacteria
antibodies - proteins produced in the blood to fight harmful organisms
antisepsis - prevention of infection by stopping the growth of bacteria
antiseptics - chemicals used to destroy bacteria and prevent infection
anti-toxin - a substance produced by the body to fight a poison
aqueduct - a channel used to carry clean water
apothecary - a pharmacist or chemist
arteries - blood vessels which carry blood away from the heart
arthritis - the painful swelling of joints
Asclepion - temple of the Greek god of healing
aseptic - a germ-free state
astrology - the study of the planets and their influence on people's lives
B
bacteria - germs that cause infection and disease
barber surgeons - barbers who also performed minor surgery
BC - before christ, before the birth of jesus
bezoar stone - a ball of indigestable material found in goat's stomachs
biochemist - a scientist who studies the 'make-up' of living things
Black Death - a phrase used to describe the bubonic plague
bleeding - the treatment of drawing blood from a patient, eg. leeches
blood group - the particular type of blood a patient has
blood transfusion - giving fresh blood to a patient to replace lost blood
C
cautery - using a hot iron to seal a wound
carbolic spray - carbolic acid, used as a disinfectant and antiseptic
cell - the basic unit of life which makes up the bodies of all living things
cesspit - a place for collecting/storing sewage
charm - an object believed to have magical powers
chirurgery - surgery
chloroform - a liquid whose vapour acts as an anaesthetic
cholera - a disease carried in contaminated sewage
chromosomes - found in the nuclei of cells, contain genes
clinical observation - close observation and recording of a patient's symptoms
constipation - difficulty clearing the bowels
constitution - the physical make-up of a person
consumption - tuberculosis
contagion - the passing of disease from one person to another
contaminated - something that is infected
cordial - a non-alcoholic drink
coronary - referring to blood vessels around the heart
culture - the growth of micro-organisms in the laboratory
D
delirious - excited and confused, often as a result of high fever
diagnosis - the doctors opinion of what is…
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