The Field of Medicine
The field of medicine involves the practice and science of taking care of patients. This includes diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and palliation of disease. It also involves promoting patient health. There are several types of medical careers. These include pediatrics, internal medicine, and family medicine. The practice of medicine is a rewarding, high-demand career path.
Besides treating people, many other medical careers involve studying different areas of the body. Some of these include anatomy and physiology, which study the physical structure of the human body. Others include biochemistry and microbiology, which study the behavior and structure of biological systems. The last field, neuroscience, includes disciplines relating to the nervous system. Neuroscience, in particular, focuses on the structure and function of the human spinal cord.
A shift in medical thought took place during the Black Death in the 14th and 15th centuries, when the Catholic Church encouraged universities to revive the study of medicine. During this time, physicians like Vesalius refined previous medical theories. The Materia Medica and Pharmacopeia became the main texts for medical students and experts.
Modern biotechnology allows for the development of drugs targeted at specific physiological processes and designed for optimal compatibility with the human body. Advances in human genetics and genomics are also changing the face of medicine. For instance, scientists have identified the causative genes for most monogenic genetic disorders. This knowledge is influencing medical practice and decision-making.
Most doctors specialize in a particular field of medicine. For example, an anesthesiologist treats patients undergoing surgery, giving them drugs to numb the pain and monitoring vital signs. Other doctors deal with conditions affecting the heart and immune system. They can also help patients prevent and manage illnesses of the digestive system.
A doctor can also refer a patient to a hospital-based specialist if there is a serious health condition. A hospital-based oncologist, for example, specializes in cancer. Most surgeries are performed in a hospital setting. Some are performed on an outpatient basis, while others may require an overnight stay.
There are two main types of medical clinics: community health centers and hospitals. Community health centers often provide primary care for the general public while hospitals focus on inpatient care for more serious conditions. Compared to hospitals, community health centers are smaller and have a smaller staff. Hospitals provide more comprehensive care and generally charge more.
In clinical neurophysiology, tests are performed to assess the function of the central and peripheral nervous systems. These tests are divided into two categories: spontaneous electrical activity and stimulus evoked responses. Some of these tests include electroencephalography, electromyography, nerve conduction study, and polysomnography. These are just a few of the many different types of tests in the field of medical science.
Until the eighteenth century, veterinary and human medicine were interrelated. However, the development of science led to the separation of the two fields. In the 18th century, French veterinarian Claude Bourgelat established the first veterinary school. This separation brought modern scientific research into the picture. With the discovery of the smallpox vaccine, a new era of medicine began. The discovery of antibiotics around 1900 was another major step in the history of medicine.
The field of medicine involves the practice and science of taking care of patients. This includes diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and palliation of disease. It also involves promoting patient health. There are several types of medical careers. These include pediatrics, internal medicine, and family medicine. The practice of medicine is a rewarding, high-demand career path. Besides treating people, many other medical careers involve studying different areas of the body. Some of these include anatomy and physiology, which study the physical structure of the human body. Others include biochemistry and microbiology, which study the behavior and structure of biological systems. The last field, neuroscience, includes disciplines relating to the nervous system. Neuroscience, in particular, focuses on the structure and function of the human spinal cord. A shift in medical thought took place during the Black Death in the 14th and 15th centuries, when the Catholic Church encouraged universities to revive the study of medicine. During this time, physicians like Vesalius refined previous medical theories. The Materia Medica and Pharmacopeia became the main texts for medical students and experts. Modern biotechnology allows for the development of drugs targeted at specific physiological processes and designed for optimal compatibility with the human body. Advances in human genetics and genomics are also changing the face of medicine. For instance, scientists have identified the causative genes for most monogenic genetic disorders. This knowledge is influencing medical practice and decision-making. Most doctors specialize in a particular field of medicine. For example, an anesthesiologist treats patients undergoing surgery, giving them drugs to numb the pain and monitoring vital signs. Other doctors deal with conditions affecting the heart and immune system. They can also help patients prevent and manage illnesses of the digestive system. A doctor can also refer a patient to a hospital-based specialist if there is a serious health condition. A hospital-based oncologist, for example, specializes in cancer. Most surgeries are performed in a hospital setting. Some are performed on an outpatient basis, while others may require an overnight stay. There are two main types of medical clinics: community health centers and hospitals. Community health centers often provide primary care for the general public while hospitals focus on inpatient care for more serious conditions. Compared to hospitals, community health centers are smaller and have a smaller staff. Hospitals provide more comprehensive care and generally charge more. In clinical neurophysiology, tests are performed to assess the function of the central and peripheral nervous systems. These tests are divided into two categories: spontaneous electrical activity and stimulus evoked responses. Some of these tests include electroencephalography, electromyography, nerve conduction study, and polysomnography. These are just a few of the many different types of tests in the field of medical science. Until the eighteenth century, veterinary and human medicine were interrelated. However, the development of science led to the separation of the two fields. In the 18th century, French veterinarian Claude Bourgelat established the first veterinary school. This separation brought modern scientific research into the picture. With the discovery of the smallpox vaccine, a new era of medicine began. The discovery of antibiotics around 1900 was another major step in the history of medicine.