What Is Medicine?
Medicine is the science and practice of diagnosis, treatment, cure and prevention of disease. It is a profession that involves knowledge of human anatomy and physiology, medical ethics, and the social sciences (such as history, philosophy, religion, art and literature). The practice of medicine includes the administration of drugs and vaccines and surgical procedures. Medical practitioners are usually licensed or registered. This ensures that patients receive quality care from a trained professional and protects the public from incompetent practitioners.
There are many branches of medicine. Some are descriptive, such as anatomy (the study of the structure of living things), cytology (the microscopic study of cells) and histology (the scientific and medical examination of tissues). Other branches use the tools of other disciplines, for example biochemistry uses the methods of chemistry, while physiology applies the laws of physics to understanding body systems. Biomechanics combines the methods of biology, physics and mathematics to study biological structures, while biostatistics applies statistics to the broad field of biology.
Other fields of medicine include pharmacology (the study of medicines), photobiology (the interaction between light and living tissue) and radiation biology (the effects of ionizing radiation on life). Medicine overlaps with other disciplines such as nutrition (the science of food and drink), dietetics, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, pathology and psychiatry.
Medical research is a vital component of modern medicine. The results of this research are then used to develop new treatments and cures. A major area of medical research is genomics, which uses the tools of chemistry, physics, biology and computer science to understand the function of genes and their role in diseases like cancer.
The first point of contact for most patients seeking medical attention is a primary care provider, such as a physician or nurse practitioner. This may be in the form of an office visit, a trip to a clinic or hospital, home visits or telephone consultations. Primary care providers make up about 90% of all medical visits.
During the visit the patient will discuss their symptoms, and a physical examination will be performed. Laboratory and imaging tests may be ordered if necessary. Depending on the outcome of the investigation, the physician will make a diagnosis and prescribe medication or recommend other treatment.
Medical ethics are the principles and beliefs that govern medical practice. They are derived from ancient traditions, such as herbalism and the Greek four humors, and from modern scientific biomedical research. These have largely replaced earlier beliefs such as those that underlie the practice of bleeding the sick to purge them of their “evils”. Medical ethics also deal with the appropriate use of medical technology, for example the use of blood transfusions.
Medicine is the science and practice of diagnosis, treatment, cure and prevention of disease. It is a profession that involves knowledge of human anatomy and physiology, medical ethics, and the social sciences (such as history, philosophy, religion, art and literature). The practice of medicine includes the administration of drugs and vaccines and surgical procedures. Medical practitioners are usually licensed or registered. This ensures that patients receive quality care from a trained professional and protects the public from incompetent practitioners. There are many branches of medicine. Some are descriptive, such as anatomy (the study of the structure of living things), cytology (the microscopic study of cells) and histology (the scientific and medical examination of tissues). Other branches use the tools of other disciplines, for example biochemistry uses the methods of chemistry, while physiology applies the laws of physics to understanding body systems. Biomechanics combines the methods of biology, physics and mathematics to study biological structures, while biostatistics applies statistics to the broad field of biology. Other fields of medicine include pharmacology (the study of medicines), photobiology (the interaction between light and living tissue) and radiation biology (the effects of ionizing radiation on life). Medicine overlaps with other disciplines such as nutrition (the science of food and drink), dietetics, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, pathology and psychiatry. Medical research is a vital component of modern medicine. The results of this research are then used to develop new treatments and cures. A major area of medical research is genomics, which uses the tools of chemistry, physics, biology and computer science to understand the function of genes and their role in diseases like cancer. The first point of contact for most patients seeking medical attention is a primary care provider, such as a physician or nurse practitioner. This may be in the form of an office visit, a trip to a clinic or hospital, home visits or telephone consultations. Primary care providers make up about 90% of all medical visits. During the visit the patient will discuss their symptoms, and a physical examination will be performed. Laboratory and imaging tests may be ordered if necessary. Depending on the outcome of the investigation, the physician will make a diagnosis and prescribe medication or recommend other treatment. Medical ethics are the principles and beliefs that govern medical practice. They are derived from ancient traditions, such as herbalism and the Greek four humors, and from modern scientific biomedical research. These have largely replaced earlier beliefs such as those that underlie the practice of bleeding the sick to purge them of their “evils”. Medical ethics also deal with the appropriate use of medical technology, for example the use of blood transfusions.