Useful Medical English Vocabulary

Version 1 (27 March 2009)

1. (a) Drop (in something, blood pressure)
2. (a) Program (of something, exercise)
3. (the) Test revealed
4. Abort
5. Abortion
6. Abrupt
7. Abruption
8. Abscess
9. Ache (toothache, headache)
10. Acuity
11. Acute (acutely)
12. Adams apple
13. Adapt
14. Adept
15. Adjust
16. Admit (admit to hospital)
17. Aggravate (to aggravate something)
18. Alert (alertness)
19. Ambulance
20. Ambulate, ambulation
21. Angina
22. Ankle(s) = tarsal
23. Anxious
24. Apex
25. Armpit = axilla
26. Assess
27. Athletes foot
28. B/P {Blood Pressure}
29. Bandage (n), (v)
30. Base
31. Bed sore
32. Bedridden
33. Belly
34. bid (b.i.d.) {twice a day: bis in die)
35. Birth defect

36. Birthmark
37. Blemish
38. Blind(ness)
39. Blister
40. Bloated
41. Blow the nose
42. Blunt force injury
43. Blurry (vision)
44. Boil
45. Bowel habits
46. Bowel movement
47. Bowel(s)
48. Brace
49. Breach birth
50. Breast feeding (nursing)
51. Breastbone
52. Breath
53. Breathe (v)
54. Breathless
55. Brittle
56. Broken
57. Bruise
58. Bruit
59. Build up
60. Bulging
61. Bulk (bulky)
62. Bumps
63. BUN {blood urea nitrogen}
64. Burning sensation or Burning pain
65. Burst
66. By pass
67. CAD {coronary artery disease}
68. Caesarean (section)
69. Calf
70. Cane
71. Carrier (of a disease)
72. Cast

73. CBC {complete blood cell count}

74. CC {chief complaint}
75. Change
76. Check* (something; e.g. temperature)
77. Cheek
78. Chew
79. CHF (congestive heart failure)
80. Chicken pox
81. Chicken pox
82. Chills
83. Chin
84. Choke (to choke on something)
85. Chronic
86. Clamp (n), (v)
87. Clay-colored stools
88. Clots
89. Clubbing
90. Clubbing
91. Coarse
92. Co-infection
93. Cold (a cold, e.g. rhinovirus)
94. Cold sore
95. Cold sore (HSV 1 lesion)
96. Colic
97. Collarbone
98. Commence
99. Common
100. Compatible
101. Complain
102. Complaint
103. Complication
104. Concussion
105. Condom(s)
106. Confusion
107. Conscious, consciousness
108. Consistency
109. Constipation

110. Constipation
111. Constriction
112. Control* (something, blood pressure)
113. Contusion
114. Cough
115. Course
116. Course of treatment
117. Crackles
118. Cramp
119. Cramps
120. Cream
121. Crepitation
122. Critical
123. Croup
124. Crucial
125. Crush
126. Crust
127. Crutch
128. Culture and sensitivity
129. Cure
130. Deaf
131. Decline
132. Deep
133. Deficiency
134. Deficit(s)
135. Delicate
136. Delivery (deliver)
137. Demented
138. Depend (to depend on something)
139. Depressed
140. Deteriorate
141. Diagnosis
142. Diaphragm
143. Diarrhea
144. Differential count
145. Dilate (dilation, dilatation)
146. Diminish or diminished

147. Disappear
148. Discharge
149. Discharge (n), (v)
150. Discontinue
151. Discourage a behavior
152. Disorder(s)
153. Disposable
154. Dissolve
155. Distend, distended, distention
156. Disturbed
157. Dizzy
158. Dizzy (dizziness)
159. Donor
160. Dose (of a medicine)
161. Double vision
162. Drain (to) (n), (v)
163. Drainage
164. Dressing (n)
165. Droop(y)
166. Drop (n) (a small volume)
167. Drowsy, drowsiness
168. Dry cough
169. Due date
170. Dull
171. Dumb
172. Duration
173. Dysphoria
174. Ectopic pregnancy
175. Edema
176. Edema
177. Effort (to make an)
178. Effusion
179. Elbow
180. Elderly
181. Encourage a behavior
182. Enhance
183. Enlarged

184. Enormous
185. Ensure
186. Episode(s)
187. Euphoria
188. Exacerbate
189. Exaggerated
190. Excision
191. Excrete(d)
192. Excruciating (pain)
193. Exertion
194. Exhausted
195. Eye drops
196. Eyebrow
197. Eyelash
198. Eyelid
199. Faint(ed)
200. Faintness
201. Fallopian tube
202. False labor
203. False negative
204. False positive
205. Fatigue
206. Feces
207. Fester
208. Fever (to have a)
209. Fever blister
210. Feverish (febrile)
211. Fine
212. Finger
213. Fistula
214. Fit
215. Flaccid
216. Flare up
217. Flatulence
218. Fluid retention
219. Flush, flushing (hyperemia)
220. Forceps

221. Forceps delivery

222. Fossa
223. Freckle
224. Frequency
225. Friction rub
226. Frost bite
227. Furuncle
228. Gait
229. Gall bladder
230. Gargle
231. German measles (Rubella)
232. Glands
233. Gout
234. Gradual(ly)
235. Groin
236. Groin pull
237. Gums
238. Gurney
239. Hacking cough
240. Hamstrings
241. Harsh
242. Have difficulty doing something
243. Hay fever
244. Hct {hematocrit}
245. Heal
246. Heart rhythm
247. Heartburn
248. Heel
249. Hemoptysis
250. Herniated disc (see slipped disc)
251. Hesitancy
252. Hesitancy
253. Hgb or Hb {hemoglobin}
254. Hip
255. Hives
256. ICU (Intensive care unit)
257. Ill

258. IM (intramuscular injection)

259. Immobilize
260. Impaired
261. Impediment
262. Improve
263. Inadequate
264. Incidence
265. Incompetence
266. Inconsequential
267. Incontinence
268. Increase
269. Incubation period
270. Induce
271. Induced abortion
272. Induction
273. Infected
274. Infested
275. Inflamed (to inflame)
276. Inguinal region
277. Inject (injection)
278. Inoperable
279. Insidious
280. Insignificant
281. Insomnia
282. Intact
283. Intermittent
284. Intolerance (to something)
285. Invasive (non-invasive)
286. Iris
287. Iron
288. Irregular
289. Irritable
290. Itch
291. Itchy
292. IUD (intrauterine device)
293. IV (intravenous)
294. IV fluid

295. Jaundice
296. Jaw
297. Jerk (to pull quickly and forcefully)
298. Jock itch
299. Jut
300. Knee cap = patella
301. Kneecap
302. Labor
303. Laceration
304. Lactation
305. Lame
306. Leak(ing)
307. Lens
308. Lesion
309. Lethargy, lethargic
310. Light-headed(ness)
311. Limb, limbs
312. Limp (n), (v)
313. Lining (of something)
314. Lobe
315. LOC {level of consciousness}
316. Localized
317. Lockjaw
318. Loin
319. Loose
320. Loose stools
321. Loosen
322. Lose
323. Lotion
324. Lump
325. Lump
326. Lung
327. Maintain
328. Malodorous
329. Measles
330. MI {myocardial infarction}
331. Midwife

332. Mild
333. Miscarriage (miscarry)
334. Moderate
335. Mole
336. Mood
337. Motion(s)
338. Mumps
339. Murmur
340. Muscle strain, muscle pull
341. Muscle wasting
342. Naevus
343. Nagging (pain)
344. Narrow (narrowed blood vessel)
345. Nasal congestion
346. Navel
347. Neck
348. Needle
349. Nightmare
350. Node (lymph node)
351. Nodule
352. Noninvasive
353. Nose drops
354. Nosocomial infection
355. NPO {nothing by mouth; nil per os}
356. Numb
357. Numerous
358. Obstetrical (Obstetrics) Obstetrician
359. Obstruction
360. Occlude, occluding
361. Occur
362. Ointment
363. Onset
364. Open / shut case
365. Operable
366. OTC {Over-The-Counter}
367. Ovary
368. Overactive

369. Overdose
370. Painkiller(s)
371. Pale
372. Palliate (palliative)
373. Palm
374. Palpable
375. Palpate
376. Palpitations
377. Palsy
378. Pap smear
379. Papules
380. Paroxysm (paroxysmal)
381. Pass water
382. Patch (nicotine patch)
383. Pee
384. Perforate(d)
385. Period(s)
386. Peripheral
387. Pernicious
388. Persistent
389. Perspiration
390. Perspire
391. Peruses
392. Phlegm
393. Piles
394. Pinch
395. Pitting edema
396. Plaster
397. Plaster of Paris
398. Plenty
399. Pleural rub
400. PMS
401. PO {by mouth; per os}
402. Potent
403. Pounding
404. Precipitate
405. Premature

406. Premature delivery

407. Previous
408. PRN {as needed}
409. Procedure
410. Productive cough
411. Profuse
412. Promote
413. Prone
414. Puffy
415. Pulled muscle
416. Pupil
417. Purulent
418. Pus
419. Pustule
420. Pyrexia
421. q2h {every 2 hours}
422. q4h {every 4 hours}
423. q6h
424. q8h
425. qd (q.d.) {every day; quaque die}
426. qhr (q. hr.) {every hour; quapue hour}
427. qid (q.i.d.) {four times a day; quater}
428. Radiate
429. Rales
430. Rapid
431. Rare (rarely)
432. Rash
433. RBC {red blood cell or RBC count}
434. Rebound tenderness
435. Recipient
436. Recover
437. Recurrence (of something)
438. Red measles (Rubeola)
439. Reduction (of a fracture)
440. Refer (referral)
441. Regimen (treatment schedule)
442. Regular

443. Regurgitation
444. Relapse
445. Release
446. Relief
447. Relieve
448. Remedy
449. Removal
450. Remove
451. Replace
452. Resistant
453. Resolve
454. Retardation
455. Return
456. Reversible
457. Rib
458. Rib
459. Rigor
460. Ring worm
461. Rinse
462. Rough
463. Rub (v)
464. Runny nose
465. Rupture
466. Sag
467. Salve
468. Sample (n), (v)
469. Scab
470. Scale (scaly)
471. Scalp
472. Scan
473. Scar
474. Sciatica
475. Scratch (n), (v)
476. Secondary infection
477. Secreted
478. Sedation
479. Seizure

480. Sequelae
481. Set back
482. Severe
483. Sew
484. Sharp, sharply
485. Shin (shinbone)
486. Shingles
487. Shiver (shivering)
488. Shock
489. Shoulder
490. Shoulder blade (scapula)
491. Shrink
492. Shuffling gait
493. Sick to your stomach
494. Skin creases
495. Skin fold
496. Sleepy
497. Sling (n)
498. Slipped disc
499. Slump
500. Slurred (speech0
501. Small pox
502. Smear test
503. Smooth
504. Sneeze
505. Snore (snoring, to snore)
506. SOB {Short Of Breath}
507. Sodium
508. Sole
509. Soothing (to soothe)
510. SOP {standard operating procedures}
511. Sore (n), (adj)
512. Sore throat
513. Spasm
514. Spastic
515. Specimen
516. Spine

517. Splint
518. Spontaneous abortion
519. Sprain (ankle sprain)
520. Sprained
521. Sputum
522. Squeeze
523. Squint
524. Stabbing pain
525. Stable
526. Starve
527. STD (sexually transmitted disease)
528. Stenosis
529. Stick (v)
530. Stiff (joint or muscle)
531. Still born
532. Stimulate
533. Stomach ache
534. Stool(s)
535. Strain (to do something)
536. Strained (strained muscle)
537. Strep throat {Streptococcus pyogenes}
538. Stress
539. Stress fracture
540. Stretch
541. Stretcher {used to carry a patient}
542. Strike
543. Stroke
544. Stuffy (stuffiness)
545. Subside
546. Sudden
547. Sufferer (migraine sufferer)
548. Suffering
549. Suffers from
550. Suicidal
551. Suicide
552. Super-infection
553. Susceptible

554. Suture (n), (v)

555. Swab (n), (v)
556. Swallow
557. Sweat(s), sweating
558. Swell, swollen
559. Symptomatic relief
560. Syndrome
561. Syringe
562. Syrup
563. Technique
564. Temple
565. Tendency
566. Tender, tenderness
567. Tense
568. Terminate (a pregnancy)
569. Test results
570. Thigh (thigh bone)
571. Thrills
572. Throat
573. Throat swab
574. Throbbing
575. Thumb
576. tid (t.i.d.) {three times a day; ter in die}
577. Tight muscle
578. Tightness (chest tightness)
579. Tingling (sensation)
580. Tired, tiredness
581. Titrate
582. Toe(s)
583. Tongue
584. Touch and go (situation)
585. Transient
586. Treat, treatment
587. Tremor
588. Tricky
589. Trigger
590. Trimester

591. Tummy (stomach)

592. Ulcer
593. Unconscious
594. Under the ribs
595. Undergo (some procedure)
596. Underlying cause (of something)
597. Unresponsive
598. Unsteady
599. Urinate
600. Use caution
601. UTI (urinary tract infection)
602. Vesicle
603. Void
604. Vomit, vomiting
605. Waist
606. Ward
607. Ware off
608. Warranted (to warrant)
609. Wart
610. Waste
611. Watery eyes
612. WBC (white blood cell count)
613. Weak, weakness
614. Wheelchair
615. Wheeze
616. Whooping cough
617. Windpipe
618. Withdrawal
619. Womb
620. Wound
621. Wrist = carpus

Check and Control (problem words)

The patient needs to better control their blood pressure.
The patient needs to control their stress.
I need to check your blood pressure today.
I checked your blood pressure; it was 118 / 76 mmHg. {incorrect = I need to control your
blood pressure.}