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Learning medical English can be a challenge, especially for ESL students and healthcare professionals who are new to an English-speaking environment. Whether you’re a nurse, medical student, or just curious, understanding basic medical terms and abbreviations is essential.
In this post, you’ll find a list of essential medical terms and abbreviations, explained in simple English. We’ve also included a PDF download to help you study offline.
Why Learn Medical Terms and Abbreviations?
- Helps with communication in hospitals and clinics
- Supports understanding of health documents and reports
- Useful for exams, training, and real-life practice
100 Common Medical Terms with Simple Definitions
Here is a list of medical terms (A–Z) – 100 Entries:
A
- Abdomen – The part of the body between the chest and hips.
- Acute – A condition with sudden onset and short duration.
- Allergy – An abnormal reaction by the immune system to a substance.
- Anemia – A condition where you have a low red blood cell count.
- Antibiotic – Medicine that kills bacteria.
- Antibody – A protein made by the body to fight infections.
- Antiseptic – A substance that prevents infection in wounds.
- Asthma – A condition that causes breathing difficulty.
B
- Benign – Not harmful; not cancerous.
- Biopsy – A sample of tissue taken to examine for disease.
- Blood Pressure – The force of blood against the arteries.
- Bruise – Discoloration on the skin caused by injury.
C
- Cancer – A disease caused by uncontrolled cell growth.
- Cardiac – Related to the heart.
- Chronic – A long-lasting or recurring condition.
- Clinic – A place where patients receive medical care.
- Contagious – Able to spread from person to person.
- Cough – A sudden expulsion of air from the lungs.
D
- Diagnosis – Identification of a disease.
- Diabetes – A condition affecting blood sugar levels.
- Diarrhea – Frequent loose bowel movements.
- Discharge – Release of fluid from the body.
- Dizzy – Feeling of spinning or losing balance.
- Dose – Specific amount of medicine to take.
E
- ECG (Electrocardiogram) – A test to check heart function.
- Edema – Swelling caused by fluid in tissues.
- Emergency – A serious situation needing immediate attention.
- Examination – A physical check by a doctor.
F
- Fever – High body temperature due to illness.
- Fracture – A broken bone.
- Fatigue – Extreme tiredness.
G
- Gastroenteritis – Inflammation of the stomach and intestines.
- Glucose – A type of sugar in the blood.
- General Practitioner (GP) – A doctor for common medical problems.
H
- Headache – Pain in the head.
- Heart Attack – Blocked blood flow to the heart muscle.
- Hemorrhage – Heavy bleeding.
- Hypertension – High blood pressure.
- Hypotension – Low blood pressure.
I
- ICU (Intensive Care Unit) – A hospital unit for very ill patients.
- Infection – Illness caused by bacteria, virus, or fungi.
- Inflammation – Swelling, redness, or pain in body tissues.
- Injection – Medicine given through a needle.
J
- Joint – Where two bones meet.
- Jaundice – Yellowing of skin and eyes due to liver problems.
K
- Kidney – Organ that filters waste from the blood.
- Knee Replacement – Surgery to replace a damaged knee joint.
L
- Lesion – Abnormal tissue or sore on the body.
- Liver – Organ that helps with digestion and detox.
- Lump – A swelling or small mass under the skin.
M
- Migraine – A severe headache often with nausea.
- Malignant – Dangerous, often cancerous.
- MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) – A scan for soft tissues.
- Muscle Cramp – Sudden tightening of a muscle.
- Medication – Substance used to treat illness.
N
- Nausea – Feeling like you want to vomit.
- Numbness – Loss of feeling in a body part.
- Normal Range – Usual or healthy measurement range.
O
- Operation – Surgical procedure.
- Oxygen – A gas essential for breathing.
- Obesity – Excessive body weight or fat.
P
- Painkiller – A drug that relieves pain.
- Palpitation – Rapid or irregular heartbeat.
- Pneumonia – Lung infection causing cough and fever.
- Prescription – Written order for medicine.
- Pulse – Heartbeat measured at the wrist or neck.
Q
- Quarantine – Isolation to prevent disease spread.
R
- Radiology – The use of imaging (like X-rays) to diagnose or treat diseases.
- Rash – Red, irritated skin.
- Recovery – Returning to health.
- Rehabilitation – Therapy to restore normal function after illness or injury.
- Reflex – Automatic body movement.
- Respiration – The act of breathing.
- Resuscitation – Reviving someone from unconsciousness or apparent death.
- Rupture – A break or tear in a body part or organ.
S
- Seizure – Sudden uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain.
- Side Effect – Unintended effect of a medicine.
- Sore – A painful or raw spot.
- Sprain – Injury to ligaments.
- Stethoscope – Tool used to listen to the heart and lungs.
- Swelling – Enlarged area, often from injury.
T
- Temperature – Body heat measurement.
- Tendon – Tissue connecting muscle to bone.
- Thermometer – Tool to measure temperature.
- Treatment – Care to cure or manage a disease.
- Tumor – A lump caused by abnormal cell growth.
U
- Ultrasound – Imaging test using sound waves.
- Urine Test – Test of pee to check for illness.
- Urology – Study of urinary system and male reproductive organs.
V
- Vaccine – Medicine to prevent disease.
- Virus – Small germ causing illness.
- Vomiting – Forcing stomach contents out through the mouth.
- Vital Signs – Basic body functions (pulse, temperature, etc.).
W
- Wound – Break in the skin due to injury.
- Weakness – Lack of strength.
X
- X-ray – Imaging technique to see bones.
Y
- Yellowing (Jaundice) – Yellow skin from liver problems.
- Yeast Infection – Fungal infection, often in moist areas.
Z
- Zinc – Mineral important for healing and immunity.
- Zoonotic Disease – Illness passed from animals to humans.
Common Medical Abbreviations and What They Mean
| Abbreviation | Full Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| BP | Blood Pressure | Measurement of blood pressure |
| HR | Heart Rate | Number of heartbeats per minute |
| Rx | Prescription | Doctor’s order for medication |
| OTC | Over-the-Counter | Medicine bought without prescription |
| PRN | As needed (from Latin) | Take only when required |
| qd | Once daily | Take one dose per day |
| bid | Twice daily | Take two doses a day |
| tid | Three times daily | Take three doses a day |
| IV | Intravenous | Through a vein |
| NPO | Nothing by mouth | No food or drink |
| CBC | Complete Blood Count | Blood test |
| ECG / EKG | Electrocardiogram | Test of heart function |
| BMI | Body Mass Index | Measures body fat based on height |
| SOB | Shortness of Breath | Difficulty breathing |
Check more medical jargon!
Download: 100 Most Common Medical Words (PDF) – Only $1.80
We’ve created a printable PDF designed to help learners understand essential medical vocabulary. The resource includes:
- The 100 most common medical terms
- A list of 30+ medical abbreviations
- Simple definitions in clear English
- An A to Z glossary for easy reference
- Quizzes with answers to test understanding
- A template worksheet to add your own terms
Practice Activities
Here are two activities to help ESL learners practice medical vocabulary:
Quiz 1: Matching Exercise (Match the term to its correct definition)
Match each term (A–G) with the correct definition (1–7).
| Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
| A. Diagnosis | 1. A reaction to substances like pollen or food causing sneezing, rash, or other issues. |
| B. Fever | 2. A document from a doctor that lets you get medicine. |
| C. Prescription | 3. A medical condition identified by a doctor. |
| D. Symptom | 4. A sign or feeling that shows something is wrong in the body. |
| E. Surgery | 5. A high body temperature, often due to illness. |
| F. Vaccine | 6. A shot or medicine that helps prevent a disease. |
| G. Allergy | 7. A medical procedure where a doctor operates on the body. |
B. Fever → 5. A high body temperature, often due to illness
C. Prescription → 2. A document from a doctor that lets you get medicine
D. Symptom → 4. A sign or feeling that shows something is wrong in the body
E. Surgery → 7. A medical procedure where a doctor operates on the body
F. Vaccine → 6. A shot or medicine that helps prevent a disease
G. Allergy → 1. A reaction to substances like pollen or food causing sneezing, rash, or other issues
Quiz 2: Fill in the Blank (Use the correct term in each sentence)
Choose the correct term from the word bank and fill in the blank.
Word Bank: rash – antibiotic – injection – emergency – cough – blood test – recovery
- The doctor gave me an __________ to treat my infection.
- She had a painful red __________ on her arms after eating shellfish.
- He’s making a quick __________ after his operation.
- I went to the hospital because I had trouble breathing and it was an __________.
- They took a __________ to check for any signs of illness.
- I had to get an __________ before traveling abroad.
- The patient has a dry __________ and mild fever.
2. She had a painful red rash on her arms after eating shellfish.
3. He’s making a quick recovery after his operation.
4. I went to the hospital because I had trouble breathing and it was an emergency.
5. They took a blood test to check for any signs of illness.
6. I had to get an injection before traveling abroad.
7. The patient has a dry cough and mild fever.
FAQs About Medical Terms and Abbreviations for ESL Students
What is MED 100 medical terminology?
MED 100 refers to an introductory course in medical terminology commonly offered at colleges and medical training programs. It teaches the foundations of medical vocabulary, including prefixes, suffixes, and root words used in healthcare.
What is medical jargon?
Medical jargon refers to specialized vocabulary used by healthcare professionals. It includes technical terms, acronyms, and abbreviations that may be difficult for non-medical speakers or ESL learners to understand
Why are abbreviations used in healthcare?
To save time and space in medical documentation and communication.
What are the most common medical abbreviations?
Some of the most common medical abbreviations include:
BP – Blood Pressure
HR – Heart Rate
Rx – Prescription
Dx – Diagnosis
Tx – Treatment
BMI – Body Mass Index
These abbreviations are used frequently in clinical records and conversations.
How to learn medical terminology in English?
Start by studying common prefixes, suffixes, and root words. Use flashcards, repetition, and practice with real-life dialogues or case studies. Reading medical forms, watching healthcare videos, and using medical dictionaries can also help. ESL students should focus on basic terms used in everyday patient-doctor interactions.
What does ++ mean in medical terms?
In medical notes, ++ is often used to indicate an increase or intensity. For example, “pain ++” may mean moderate to severe pain. It’s shorthand that depends on context and varies slightly between institutions.
What does AC mean in medical terms?
AC stands for Ante Cibum, a Latin term meaning “before meals.” It is often used in prescriptions or patient instructions.
What are the most common medical terms for beginners?
Common terms include fever, pain, infection, allergy, rash, and prescription.
What are examples of medical abbreviations?
Examples include BP (blood pressure), HR (heart rate), and Rx (prescription).
Where can I find a list of 100 medical words in PDF format?
You can download our free PDF in this post, which includes 100+ key medical terms and abbreviations.
