Medicine, END-HOM
Humans have long sought to find cures for the ailments and injuries that befall them. This has led to a long history of diverse attempted treatments, including herbal remedies, leeching, hydrotherapy, acupuncture, homeopathy, and more, all the way up to the most recent science-based treatments that have come into use during the development of today's modern medicine. Medical research and the study of the causes of disease have led to rapid and significant advances in medicine, improving both the efficacy of treatments and our understanding of illnesses and how they operate. The importance of preventive medicine has grown, and the field of medicine has become increasingly specialized as medical disciplines and branches such as endocrinology, immunology, psychiatry, radiology, epidemiology, and nanomedicine have emerged.
Medicine Encyclopedia Articles By Title
endoscopy
endoscopy, medical examination of the interior of the body, usually through a natural body opening, by the insertion......
enema
enema, procedure in which water or other fluids are injected via the rectum into the lower intestine. Enemas stimulate......
environmental health
environmental health, area of study in the field of public health that is concerned with assessing and controlling......
environmental medicine
environmental medicine, medical science involving the study of the relationship between human health and biological,......
Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), agency of the U.S. government that sets and enforces national pollution-control......
enzyme analysis
enzyme analysis, in blood serum, measurement of the activity of specific enzymes in a sample of blood serum, usually......
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), biochemical procedure in which a signal produced by an enzymatic reaction......
ephedrine
ephedrine, alkaloid used as a decongestant drug. It is obtainable from plants of the genus Ephedra, particularly......
epidemiology
epidemiology, branch of medical science that studies the distribution of disease in human populations and the factors......
epinephrine autoinjector
epinephrine autoinjector, device consisting of a syringe and a spring-loaded needle that is used for rapid administration......
epinephrine tolerance test
epinephrine tolerance test, assessment of the metabolism of liver glycogen by measuring the blood-sugar response......
erythromycin
erythromycin, drug synthesized by the soil bacterium Streptomyces erythraeus and used in the treatment of throat......
esophagogastroduodenoscopy
esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), diagnostic procedure in which an endoscope is passed through the esophagus, stomach,......
Estrogen
Estrogen, any of a group of hormones that primarily influence the female reproductive tract in its development,......
eunuch
eunuch, castrated human male. From remote antiquity, eunuchs were employed in the Middle East and in China in two......
evidence-based medicine
evidence-based medicine, approach to patient care in which decisions about the diagnosis and management of the......
exploratory surgery
exploratory surgery, manual and instrumental means of investigating an area of the body suspected of disease when......
Exposome
Exposome, the complete set of environmental exposures throughout a personâs life, as well as how these exposures......
exposure therapy
exposure therapy, any of various approaches used to help reduce fear and anxiety that cause individuals to avoid......
eye movement and desensitization reprocessing therapy
eye movement and desensitization reprocessing therapy (EMDR), psychotherapy technique using visual bilateral stimulationâsuch......
eyeglasses
eyeglasses, lenses set in frames for wearing in front of the eyes to aid vision or to correct such defects of vision......
family practice
family practice, field of medicine that stresses comprehensive primary health care, regardless of the age or sex......
family therapy
family therapy, type of group psychotherapy (or talk therapy) designed to improve relationships among family members......
fecal microbiota transplant
fecal microbiota transplant (FMT), procedure in which processed stool from a healthy donor is transferred into......
fecal occult blood test
fecal occult blood test, method used to analyze feces for the purpose of diagnosing a disease or disorder in humans......
Female genital cutting
Female genital cutting (FGC), ritual surgical procedure that is traditional in some societies. FGC has been practiced......
fentanyl
fentanyl, synthetic narcotic analgesic (pain-relieving) drug, one of the most potent narcotics in clinical use......
fever
fever, abnormally high body temperature. Fever is a characteristic of many different diseases. For example, although......
fezolinetant
fezolinetant, nonhormonal drug used to treat vasomotor symptomsânamely, hot flashes and night sweatsâassociated......
fibrinolytic drug
fibrinolytic drug, any agent that is capable of stimulating the dissolution of a blood clot (thrombus). Fibrinolytic......
flunitrazepam
flunitrazepam, benzodiazepine drug known for its sedative, hypnotic, and anxiolytic (antianxiety) properties and......
fluorescence in situ hybridization
fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), technique that employs fluorescent probes for the detection of specific......
flying doctor service
flying doctor service, method for supplying medical service by airplane to areas where doctors are few and communications......
Food and Drug Administration
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), agency of the U.S. federal government authorized by Congress to inspect, test,......
food insecurity
food insecurity, the limited or uncertain access to nutritious food, which also includes limitations on the ability......
forensic medicine
forensic medicine, the science that deals with the application of medical knowledge to legal questions. The use......
forensic psychology
forensic psychology, Application of psychology to legal issues, often for the purpose of offering expert testimony......
four sacred medicines
four sacred medicines, group of plantsâspecifically cedar (Thuja occidentalis or T. plicata), sage (genus Artemisia......
Framingham Heart Study
Framingham Heart Study, long-term research project developed to identify risk factors of cardiovascular disease,......
Freedom House Ambulance Service
Freedom House Ambulance Service, community-based sociomedical program that became the first emergency medical services......
functional magnetic resonance imaging
functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), neuroimaging technique used in biomedical research and in diagnosis......
functional measurement
functional measurement, the processes by which medical professionals evaluate disability and determine the need......
Gamma globulin
Gamma globulin, subgroup of the blood proteins called globulins. In humans and many of the other mammals, antibodies,......
Gardasil
Gardasil, trade name of human papillomavirus (HPV) quadrivalent (types 6, 11, 16, and 18) vaccine, recombinant,......
gastrectomy
gastrectomy, surgical removal of all or part of the stomach. This procedure is used to remove both benign and malignant......
gastric fluid analysis
gastric fluid analysis, medical procedure used to examine the secretions and other liquid substances occurring......
gastroenterology
gastroenterology, medical specialty concerned with the digestive system and its diseases. Gastroenterologists diagnose......
Gates Foundation
The Gates Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation established in 2000 by Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates......
gender-affirming hormone therapy
gender-affirming hormone therapy, medical treatment that uses hormones to help transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive......
gender-affirming surgery
gender-affirming surgery, medical procedure in which the physical sex characteristics of an individual are modified.......
gene editing
gene editing, the ability to make highly specific changes in the DNA sequence of a living organism, essentially......
gene therapy
gene therapy, introduction of a normal gene into an individualâs genome in order to repair a mutation that causes......
generic drug
generic drug, therapeutic substance that is equivalent to a brand-name drug with respect to its intended use, its......
genetic counseling
genetic counseling, in medicine, process of communication in which a specially trained professional meets with......
genetic engineering
genetic engineering, the artificial manipulation, modification, and recombination of DNA or other nucleic acid......
genetic epidemiology
genetic epidemiology, the study of how genes and environmental factors influence human traits and human health......
genetic testing
genetic testing, any of a group of procedures used to identify gene variations associated with health, disease,......
genetically modified organism
genetically modified organism (GMO), organism whose genome has been engineered in the laboratory in order to favor......
germ theory
germ theory, in medicine, is the scientific principle that infectious diseases are caused by specific microorganisms......
gerontology and geriatrics
gerontology and geriatrics, scientific and medical disciplines, respectively, that are concerned with all aspects......
Gestalt therapy
Gestalt therapy, a humanistic method of psychotherapy that takes a holistic approach to human experience by stressing......
givinostat
givinostat, drug used to help slow the advance of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a genetic condition characterized......
global food security
global food security, the availability of and access to resources in sufficient quantities to achieve adequate......
Global Health Council
Global Health Council, global nonprofit alliance devoted to improving health around the world. It comprises corporations,......
glucose tolerance test
glucose tolerance test, procedure to assess the ability of the body to metabolize glucose, the principal type of......
goggles
goggles, any of a variety of protective eyewear set in a flexible frame that sits snugly against the face. Goggles......
gonadotropin
gonadotropin, any of several hormones occurring in vertebrates that are secreted from the anterior pituitary gland......
griseofulvin
griseofulvin, drug produced by the molds Penicillium griseofulvum and P. janczewski and used in the treatment of......
group therapy
group therapy, the use of group discussion and other group activities in treatment of psychological disorders.......
GSK PLC
GSK PLC is a British multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company with research-and-development centers......
Guatemala syphilis experiment
Guatemala syphilis experiment, American medical research project that lasted from 1946 to 1948 and is known for......
gynecological examination
gynecological examination, procedures aimed at assessing the health of a womanâs reproductive system. The general......
H2 receptor antagonist
H2 receptor antagonist, any agent that blocks histamine-induced secretion of gastric acid in the stomach. These......
hallucinogen
hallucinogen, substance that produces psychological effects that tend to be associated with phenomena such as dreams......
halothane
halothane, nonflammable, volatile, liquid drug introduced into medicine in the 1950s and used as a general anesthetic.......
hand sanitizer
hand sanitizer, agent applied to the hands for the purpose of removing common pathogens (disease-causing organisms).1,2......
Harmine
Harmine, hallucinogenic alkaloid found in the seed coats of a plant (Peganum harmala) of the Mediterranean region......
hashish
hashish, hallucinogenic drug preparation derived from the resin secreted by the flowering tops of cultivated female......
health
health, in humans, the extent of an individualâs continuing physical, emotional, mental, and social ability to......
Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), The Department of Health and Human Services is the executive......
health maintenance organization
health maintenance organization (HMO), organization, either public or private, that provides comprehensive medical......
hearing aid
hearing aid, device that increases the loudness of sounds in the ear of the wearer. The earliest aid was the ear......
heart murmur
heart murmur, condition characterized by prolonged noises made by blood circulating through the heart. A heart......
heart transplant
heart transplant, medical procedure involving the removal of a diseased heart from a patient and its replacement......
Heimlich maneuver
Heimlich maneuver, emergency procedure that is used to dislodge foreign bodies from the throats of choking victims.......
Helsinki, Declaration of
Declaration of Helsinki, formal statement of ethical principles published by the World Medical Association (WMA)......
hematocrit
hematocrit, diagnostic procedure for the analysis of blood. The name is also used for the apparatus in which this......
hematology
hematology, branch of medical science concerned with the nature, function, and diseases of the blood. In the 17th......
hematuria
hematuria, presence of blood in the urine, an indication of injury or disease of the kidney or some other structure......
heparin
heparin, anticoagulant drug that is used to prevent blood clots from forming during and after surgery and to treat......
herbal
herbal, ancient manual facilitating the identification of plants for medicinal purposes. Hundreds of medicinal......
heroin
heroin, highly addictive morphine derivative that makes up a large portion of the illicit traffic in narcotics.......
Hippocratic oath
Hippocratic oath, ethical code attributed to the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, adopted as a guide to conduct......
History of Cancer: A Timeline
The history of cancer research and treatment is marked by centuries of scientific inquiry and medical innovation.......
History of Public Health: A Timeline
Public health is the story of humanity versus disease. From ancient clean-water systems and the introduction of......
History of Surgery: A Timeline
The history of surgery is a remarkable journey of innovation, resilience, and discovery. From the rudimentary procedures......
History of the AIDS Crisis: A Timeline
The AIDS crisis emerged in the early 1980s as a mysterious and terrifying disease that affected various communities......
Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft
Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft, former German chemical concern founded in 1863 in the Höchst quarter of Frankfurt am......
holistic medicine
holistic medicine, a doctrine of preventive and therapeutic medicine that emphasizes the necessity of looking at......
home care
home care, health and social services provided to an ill or disabled person in the home that are intended to improve......