Understanding the Medical Field
The medical profession deals with human bodies and their ailments, from the physical to the mental. The field includes medicine, surgery, and a variety of other treatments, including diagnostic tests and prescription medicines. It also encompasses a wide range of related topics, such as anatomy, physiology, pathology, and pharmacology. Medical professionals are required to be licensed in most countries, and that requirement typically involves passing a series of exams and meeting other qualifications set by national standards.
Because the fields of medicine are so broad and complex, they often have many branches or subfields. For example, a doctor might specialize in anatomical science or biochemistry, while another physician might concentrate on psychiatry or internal medicine. A medical technician might focus on laboratory work or cytology, while a dentist might specialize in dentistry or orthodontics.
To understand a medical term, it’s helpful to break it down into its component parts: prefixes, roots, and suffixes. For example, the word “spondylolysis” is formed from spondylo, which means vertebra, and lysis, which means dissolution; it refers to the breaking down of a bone in the back. Another example of a medical word formed from its components is the anatomical system “skin” — it’s created from the root words integument, which means covering, and skin.
Most doctors and other medical professionals keep abreast of the latest research in their fields by reading medical journals. These scientific publications usually include studies and articles on the causes and treatment of diseases, disorders, injuries, or other bodily ailments. Medical journals are generally subscription-based, with doctors and other scientists who contribute to the journal receiving payment in return for their studies and articles. However, the National Library of Medicine’s database called PubMed allows nonsubscribers to read medical articles online.
Medical science is a broad discipline that covers many areas of study and research, such as anatomy, chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics. It includes a number of other subfields such as biomechanics, which uses physics to model and study biological systems; pharmacology, the science of medications; and forensic medicine, which investigates the cause and manner of a person’s death.
While some people have a natural ability to learn medical terms, others find it very difficult and frustrating. To help make it easier for those unfamiliar with the terminology, there are many resources available. In addition to online courses, books and other study guides can provide an overview of medical vocabulary and explain how it is used. It’s also helpful to practice by making flashcards and learning the terms as you hear them. This will help you retain the information and apply it to your work. Also, familiarity will go a long way; as you use medical terms more frequently, they’ll begin to feel like second nature.
The medical profession deals with human bodies and their ailments, from the physical to the mental. The field includes medicine, surgery, and a variety of other treatments, including diagnostic tests and prescription medicines. It also encompasses a wide range of related topics, such as anatomy, physiology, pathology, and pharmacology. Medical professionals are required to be licensed in most countries, and that requirement typically involves passing a series of exams and meeting other qualifications set by national standards. Because the fields of medicine are so broad and complex, they often have many branches or subfields. For example, a doctor might specialize in anatomical science or biochemistry, while another physician might concentrate on psychiatry or internal medicine. A medical technician might focus on laboratory work or cytology, while a dentist might specialize in dentistry or orthodontics. To understand a medical term, it’s helpful to break it down into its component parts: prefixes, roots, and suffixes. For example, the word “spondylolysis” is formed from spondylo, which means vertebra, and lysis, which means dissolution; it refers to the breaking down of a bone in the back. Another example of a medical word formed from its components is the anatomical system “skin” — it’s created from the root words integument, which means covering, and skin. Most doctors and other medical professionals keep abreast of the latest research in their fields by reading medical journals. These scientific publications usually include studies and articles on the causes and treatment of diseases, disorders, injuries, or other bodily ailments. Medical journals are generally subscription-based, with doctors and other scientists who contribute to the journal receiving payment in return for their studies and articles. However, the National Library of Medicine’s database called PubMed allows nonsubscribers to read medical articles online. Medical science is a broad discipline that covers many areas of study and research, such as anatomy, chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics. It includes a number of other subfields such as biomechanics, which uses physics to model and study biological systems; pharmacology, the science of medications; and forensic medicine, which investigates the cause and manner of a person’s death. While some people have a natural ability to learn medical terms, others find it very difficult and frustrating. To help make it easier for those unfamiliar with the terminology, there are many resources available. In addition to online courses, books and other study guides can provide an overview of medical vocabulary and explain how it is used. It’s also helpful to practice by making flashcards and learning the terms as you hear them. This will help you retain the information and apply it to your work. Also, familiarity will go a long way; as you use medical terms more frequently, they’ll begin to feel like second nature.