Medical Terms Glossary: 50 Essential Healthcare Terms

Acute: A condition that develops suddenly and is usually severe but brief.
Anesthesia: Loss of sensation, especially of pain, induced by drugs to allow medical procedures.
Benign: Not cancerous; a condition that does not pose a serious health risk.
Biopsy: Removal and examination of tissue for diagnostic purposes.
Carcinoma: A type of cancer that begins in the skin or tissues that line organs.
Chronic: A condition persisting for a long time or constantly recurring.
Diagnosis: The identification of a disease or condition through examination.
Edema: Swelling caused by excess fluid in body tissues.
Epidemiology: The study of how diseases spread and affect populations.
Fracture: A break in a bone.
Gastrointestinal: Relating to the stomach and intestines.
Hemoglobin: The protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.
Hypertension: High blood pressure.
Immunization: The process of making a person immune to a disease.
Jaundice: Yellowing of the skin and eyes due to liver problems.
Lesion: An area of damaged tissue.
Malignant: Cancerous; capable of spreading to other parts of the body.
Nausea: The sensation of needing to vomit.
Oncology: The study and treatment of cancer.
Pathogen: A microorganism that causes disease.
Prognosis: The likely outcome or course of a disease.
Remission: Temporary or permanent decrease of disease symptoms.
Sepsis: A serious infection affecting the whole body.
Tachycardia: Abnormally rapid heart rate.
Ulcer: An open sore on the skin or internal surface.
Vaccination: Introduction of a vaccine to produce immunity.
Xerosis: Abnormal dryness of the skin or mucous membranes.
Zoonosis: A disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans.
Arrhythmia: Irregular heartbeat.
Bronchitis: Inflammation of the bronchial tubes.
Cyst: A closed sac containing fluid or semi-solid material.
Dysphagia: Difficulty swallowing.
Embolism: A blockage in a blood vessel.
Fibromyalgia: Chronic muscle pain and fatigue.
Gallstone: A solid mass formed in the gallbladder.
Hemorrhage: Heavy bleeding.
Inflammation: Body’s response to injury or infection, causing redness and swelling.
Kyphosis: Excessive outward curvature of the spine.
Lymphoma: Cancer of the lymphatic system.
Melanoma: A serious type of skin cancer.
Neuralgia: Sharp pain along a nerve pathway.
Osteoporosis: Loss of bone density.
Pneumonia: Infection causing inflammation of the lungs.
Rhinitis: Inflammation of the nasal passages.
Scoliosis: Abnormal lateral curvature of the spine.
Thrombosis: Formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel.
Urticaria: Hives; itchy, raised welts on the skin.
Vertigo: A sensation of spinning or dizziness.
Wheezing: Breathing with a whistling or rattling sound.
Xerostomia: Dry mouth due to reduced saliva production.