What Is Medical?

Medical is the field of science and study that encompasses the human body and its diseases, illnesses and conditions. Medical doctors, nurses and other health professionals use medical tools to diagnose and treat diseases, illness and injury. Medical scientists research the causes and processes of disease, and develop new drugs and procedures to prevent or cure them.

The roots of modern medicine go back to ancient Greece, where the physician Hippocrates formulated his Hippocratic Oath for physicians and laid out a rational approach to diagnosing and treating diseases. Hippocrates classified ailments into categories of acute, chronic and endemic, which are still used today along with terms for their occurrence, course, paroxysm, resolution and recovery.

Modern health care is delivered by teams of highly trained professionals working together as an interdisciplinary unit, including medical practitioners and a range of allied health professionals. These allied health professionals include nurses, emergency medical technicians and paramedics, laboratory scientists, pharmacists, dietitians, occupational therapists, speech therapists, physical therapists, radiographers and physiologists.

In addition to the aforementioned fields of study, medical sciences also includes conservation medicine, diving medicine, gender-based medicine and evolutionary medicine. The study of the relationship between humans and their environment is called environmental or ecological medicine, while forensic medicine focuses on the medical aspects of criminal investigation such as determining cause of death and reconstruction of facial features using bone fragments to identify victims of violence.

Besides treatment, modern medicine includes prevention of illness and promotion of good health through diet and lifestyle changes. Medical scientists research the role of genetics, hormones and microbes in the development of diseases. They also work on artificial intelligence systems to assist in diagnostics, prognosis and treatment.

Medical science is a constantly evolving discipline. As a result, many medical scientists are involved in collaborative projects to advance the state of knowledge in their fields. When researchers publish their results, they must cite the previous work of other scientists. This is known as the scientific method. The citation style varies around the world, but most journals follow either the Harvard system or the Vancouver system of referencing.

Medical terminology can seem confusing, but the root of each word is simple: a prefix indicates location, direction or type and a suffix indicates the type of thing being studied. Almost all medical terms can be broken down into these components, making them easy to remember. This may help medical students and others who are studying or working in the field of medicine. The medical profession has a responsibility to ensure that its information is accessible to all, regardless of socioeconomic status, race or gender. To this end, some academic institutions and medical journals have created programs to encourage diversity in their workforces. Other organizations are developing technology to provide better access to medical information for all.

Medical is the field of science and study that encompasses the human body and its diseases, illnesses and conditions. Medical doctors, nurses and other health professionals use medical tools to diagnose and treat diseases, illness and injury. Medical scientists research the causes and processes of disease, and develop new drugs and procedures to prevent or cure them. The roots of modern medicine go back to ancient Greece, where the physician Hippocrates formulated his Hippocratic Oath for physicians and laid out a rational approach to diagnosing and treating diseases. Hippocrates classified ailments into categories of acute, chronic and endemic, which are still used today along with terms for their occurrence, course, paroxysm, resolution and recovery. Modern health care is delivered by teams of highly trained professionals working together as an interdisciplinary unit, including medical practitioners and a range of allied health professionals. These allied health professionals include nurses, emergency medical technicians and paramedics, laboratory scientists, pharmacists, dietitians, occupational therapists, speech therapists, physical therapists, radiographers and physiologists. In addition to the aforementioned fields of study, medical sciences also includes conservation medicine, diving medicine, gender-based medicine and evolutionary medicine. The study of the relationship between humans and their environment is called environmental or ecological medicine, while forensic medicine focuses on the medical aspects of criminal investigation such as determining cause of death and reconstruction of facial features using bone fragments to identify victims of violence. Besides treatment, modern medicine includes prevention of illness and promotion of good health through diet and lifestyle changes. Medical scientists research the role of genetics, hormones and microbes in the development of diseases. They also work on artificial intelligence systems to assist in diagnostics, prognosis and treatment. Medical science is a constantly evolving discipline. As a result, many medical scientists are involved in collaborative projects to advance the state of knowledge in their fields. When researchers publish their results, they must cite the previous work of other scientists. This is known as the scientific method. The citation style varies around the world, but most journals follow either the Harvard system or the Vancouver system of referencing. Medical terminology can seem confusing, but the root of each word is simple: a prefix indicates location, direction or type and a suffix indicates the type of thing being studied. Almost all medical terms can be broken down into these components, making them easy to remember. This may help medical students and others who are studying or working in the field of medicine. The medical profession has a responsibility to ensure that its information is accessible to all, regardless of socioeconomic status, race or gender. To this end, some academic institutions and medical journals have created programs to encourage diversity in their workforces. Other organizations are developing technology to provide better access to medical information for all.