Health Hub

A Health Hub is a comprehensive healthcare center in hospitals, offering integrated medical services, from primary care to specialized treatments, ensuring streamlined, coordinated, and patient-focused care under one roof.

Health Hub

A Health Hub is a comprehensive healthcare center in hospitals, offering integrated medical services, from primary care to specialized treatments, ensuring streamlined, coordinated, and patient-focused care under one roof.

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Glossary of Medical terms

Abdomen

The tummy area from the lower ribs to the pelvis.

Acute

Sudden and severe.

Adhesions

Scars that connects two or more body structures together.

Amniocentesis

A way of testing the fluid surrounding a baby in the womb by taking a small sample with a needle put into the womb through the abdomen. It can be carried out after the 15th week of pregnancy, and can detect some conditions, like Down syndrome.

Antibiotics

Medicines to fight an infection caused by bacteria.

Anaesthesia

A medical way of relieving pain.

Bacteria

Tiny organisms that may cause certain infections.

Biopsy

The taking of a small sample of tissue for examination.

Bladder

The organ in the pelvis which stores urine before it is passed out through the urethra.

Cancer

A disease of the cells.

Cell

The tiny building blocks which make up the organs and tissues of the body.

Chronic

Something that persists or continues for at least six months.

Condition

A state of being, like being healthy or fit, or having a problem, such as a heart problem.

Diabetes

A condition caused by high levels of glucose (a form of sugar) in the blood. The amount of glucose in your blood is controlled by a hormone called insulin.

Diagnosis

The tiny building blocks which make up the organs and tissues of the body.

Dilatation

The process of your cervix opening during labour.

Disease

An abnormal condition in the body causing harm.

Dysmenorrhoea

Painful periods.

Embryo

A fertilised egg.

Endometritis

Inflammation of the lining of the womb, causing discomfort or pain.

Endometrium

The lining of the womb (uterus).

Enzyme

A protein found in cells that speeds up chemical reactions in the body.

Episiotomy

A cut made through the vaginal wall and perineum to make more space to deliver the baby.

Fecundity

Being fertile.

Fertility

The ability to conceive a baby and, for a woman, to become pregnant.

Fetus

An unborn baby.

Follicle

The part of the ovary where the egg develops.

Fimbriae

The fern-like ends of the fallopian tubes, near the ovaries.

Gastrointestinal

Relating to the stomach and intestine.

Gene

A biological unit which passes on inherited information from parent to child, like facial characteristics.

Genitals

The sexual organs: in a woman, the vagina and vulva; and in a man, the penis and testicles.

Gynaecologist

A doctor who treats medical conditions and diseases that affect women and their reproductive organs.

Haemolysis

Breaking down of red blood cells in the body.

Heparin

A type of anti-coagulant medication that is given by injection.

Hypertension

Raised blood pressure.

Hypotension

Low blood pressure.

Immune system

The way the body defends itself against infection, disease and outside substances.

Immunity

Protection against infectious diseases through the action of the immune system.

Implantation

The process through which an embryo attaches to the lining of the womb.

Infectious

Conditions which can be passed from person to person by micro-organisms like viruses or bacteria.

Intensive care unit

A specialist unit within a hospital that provides extra care for seriously ill people.

Joint

A junction in the body where bones are linked together.

Karyotype

A record of the complete set of your chromosomes.

Ketones

An acid remaining when the body burns its own fat. It is often a sign of dehydration and can be tested by a blood or urine test.

Kidney

The body’s two kidneys keep fluids balanced by filtering the blood. Waste products are then excreted as urine.

Labour

The stages of childbirth. Labour is divided into three stages; first, second and third.

Laparotomy

A cut up to 14 inches long giving surgeons access to the abdomen.

Laxatives

Medication to open bowels.

Libido

Sexual desire.

Lupus

A condition caused by your immune system mistakenly attacking healthy cells in your body.

Major placenta praevia

A low-lying placenta entirely covering the cervix. See also placenta praevia.

Membranes

Another word for the amniotic sac.

Meningitis

Inflammation in the brain caused by a virus or bacteria.

Menopause

The time when a woman’s periods stop, usually around 50 years of age.

Miscarriage

The unplanned ending of a pregnancy before 23 completed weeks.

Neonatal unit

An intensive care unit designed with special equipment to care for premature or seriously ill newborn babies.

Neonatalologist

A doctor who specialises in caring for newborn babies.

Nausea

An unpleasant sensation in the stomach accompanied by the inclination to vomit.

Nebulizers

Devices that create an aerosol a mist (vapor). It is used to administer drugs or to humidify air.

Nephrology

A subspecialty of medicine concerned with the kidney.

Niacin

A water-soluble vitamin B complex.

Nyctalopia

Night blindness.

Obstetrics

The branch of medicine concerned with the care of women during pregnancy, parturition, and the puerperium.

Obstipation

Severe constipation caused by obstruction in the intestines.

Occlusion

The blockage of a blood vessel.

Ochronosis

The discoloration of body tissues,due to a metabolism disorder.

Ophthalmology

A surgical specialty concerned with the treatment of eye defects and diseases.

Optic Nerve

The second cranial nerve which conveys visual information from the retina to the brain.

Orchitis

Inflammation of a testis.

Otorrhea

Ear discharge.

Pancreatitis

Inflammation in the pancreas.

Pandemic

A widespread epidemic of infectious disease.

Paralysis

Loss of muscle function.

Paresthesia

A sensation of tingling or numbness, skin crawling, or itching without apparent cause.

Pathogen

A disease causing microorganism such as bacterium, virus or fungus.

Peptides

Members of the class of compounds composed of amino acids joined together by peptide bonds between adjacent amino acids into linear, branched or cyclical structures.

Perfusion

Delivery of blood to the capillaries.

Pharmacy

The art and the facility for the preparation and dispensing of drugs.

Quackery

The fraudulent misrepresentation of the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

Quadriceps Muscle

The quadriceps femoris. A collective name of the four-headed skeletal muscle of the thigh.

Quadriplegia

Paralysis that results in the partial or total loss of use of all four limbs and torso.

Quinine

An drug derived from the bark of the cinchona tree, used as an antimalarial drug.

Radiology

A medical specialty concerned with the use of x-ray and other forms of radiant energy in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

Regimen

A systematic plan for therapy, often involving diet, exercise and medication.

REM

Rapid eye movement

Respiratory therapy

Care of patients with abnormalities associated with the pulmonary system.

Retinitis

Inflammation of the retina.

Rhinoplasty

Plastic surgery on the nose.

Salivary ducts

Any of the ducts which transport saliva.

Salpingitis

Inflammation of the fallopian or eustachian tube.

sanatorium

A facility for the treatment of chronic disorders.

Scabies

Itchy skin caused by a tiny burrowing mite. Symptoms worse at night.

Scaphoid Bone

The bone which is located most lateral in the proximal row of carpal bones.

Scapula

The flat triangular bone in the back of the shoulder. Also called the shoulder blade.

Sedation

The reduction of anxiety, stress or excitement by administration of a sedative drug.

Tachypnea

Abnormally rapid breathing rate.

Tampons

Plugs or cylinders made of cotton, sponge, or other absorbent material used in surgery to absorb fluids.

Tarsal joints

The articulations between the various tarsal bones.

Tarsorrhaphy

Joining of part or all of the upper and lower eyelids so as to partially or completely close the eye.

Temporal Arteries

Arteries arising from the external carotid or the maxillary artery and distributing to the temporal region.

Testosterone

A hormone produced by the testicles. Responsible for maintaining muscle mass, bone density and sex drive.

Thalamus

Paired bodies containing mostly gray matter and forming part of the lateral wall of the third ventricle of the brain.

Thrombosis

The formation and development of a blood clot in a blood vessel.

Thymus

An organ that is part of the lymphatic system, in which T lymphocytes grow and multiply. The thymus is in the chest behind the breastbone.

Thyroid

A highly vascularized endocrine gland that regulates metabolism. It consists of two lobes joined by a thin band of tissue with one lobe on each side of the trachea.

Tuberculosis

Bacterial infection that usually affects the lungs.

Umbilical cord

The flexible rope-like structure that connects a developing fetus to the placenta. The cord contains blood vessels which carry oxygen and nutrients from the mother to the fetus and waste products away from the fetus.

Uremia

Presence of excessive amounts of urea in the blood. May be a sign of renal disease or failure.

Ureterolithiasis

Formation of stones in the ureter.

Urethritis

Inflammation of the urethra, causing painful and difficult urination.

Urinalysis

Laboratory analysis of urine by chemical, physical, or microscopic means.

Urinary bladder

A muscular, membranous sac along the urinary tract that store urine until urination.

Urination

Paired bodies containing mostly gray matter and forming part of the lateral wall of the third ventricle of the brain.

Urology

A surgical specialty concerned with the study, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases of the urinary tract in both sexes, and the genital tract in the male.

Vertebrae

The bones or segments composing the spinal column.

Vitamins

Organic substances that are required in small amounts for maintenance and growth.

Vitiligo

A chronic disease that causes white patches develop on the skin.

Vitrectomy

Surgery to remove vitreous gel from the eye.

volition

Voluntary activity without external compulsion.

WBC

white blood cell; white blood count

Weal

A bump raised on the skin caused by a lash or blow.

Weaning

The replacement of mother's milk in the diet of a young child with other food.

Whey

The liquid components of milk that remain after the casein, fat, and fat soluble components have been removed.

Whooping cough

A respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis and characterized by paroxysmal coughing ending in a prolonged crowing intake of breath.

Xenophobia

Intense or irrational dislike or fear of anything that is strange or foreign, particularly of strange people.

Xeroderma

An inherited condition characterized by an extreme sensitivity to ultraviolet rays from sunlight.

Xerophthalmia

Severe dry eyes caused by a malfunction of the tear glands.

Yawning

An involuntary deep inhalation with the mouth open, often accompanied by the act of stretching.

Zygoma

Either of a pair of bones that form the prominent part of the CHEEK and contribute to the ORBIT on each side of the SKULL.

Zygomycosis

An acute, sometimes fatal fungal infection.

Zygote

The fertilized ovum resulting from the fusion of a male and a female gamete.