Key points
- The health system has a language of its own – from the systems that care for people to the words that describe medical conditions.
- Learning medical terms will help you make informed health decisions for your family.
Why knowing medical terms matters
Medical words can be long, complex and confusing. Many terms come from old Latin or Greek words, so they are not spelled or pronounced the same as English words.
Learning some key medical terms will help you make informed decisions about your family’s health.
Glossary of key medical words
A
Acute: A term to describe an illness or disease process that comes on very quickly, or occurs over a short period.
Adolescent: A young person between the ages of 10 and 19.
Adolescent transition: The process that young people aged 15 to 18 living with a chronic illness need to go through to move on from a children's hospital to an adult health service.
Afebrile: No fever or high temperature is present.
Allergist/Immunologist: A doctor who specialises in allergies and immune system problems.
Allied health care: A broad term that covers all kinds of health care from trained health professionals. Allied health professionals are not usually doctors, but most have done specialised training at university. Physiotherapists and psychologists are
examples of allied health professionals.
Ambulant/Ambulation: Able to walk; walking.
Ambulatory: An outpatient (not admitted or staying in the hospital). An Ambulatory Care Centre or Clinic is where hospital outpatients are seen.
Anaesthetic: There are two main types of anaesthetic medications: local and general. A local anaesthetic (or 'local') is a medicine used to cause numbness or loss of feeling of the skin and surrounding tissue before a small operation or procedure. A general
anaesthetic (or 'general') is a medication used during an operation to help people fall asleep and not remember anything.
Anaesthetist: A doctor who specialises in giving anaesthetic medicines to people before, during and after an operation or medical procedure.
Anorexia: A temporary loss of appetite or being unable to eat enough food because of illness. This only lasts a short time – usually a few days or until the illness goes away.
Anorexia nervosa: A type of eating disorder and serious mental illness. It may be mistaken for general anorexia, but it is not the same thing.
Aphasia: Inability to speak. This may be an acute or chronic problem.
Ataxia: A loss of coordination (for example, trouble walking).
Audiologist: A health professional who specialises in hearing and balance.
B
Bacteria: A 'germ' or 'bug' which can cause an infection.
Benign: Not cancerous and does not spread (for example, a 'benign tumour').
Biopsy: A small sample of tissue removed to be tested for diseases. Health professionals usually take biopsies during an operation or medical procedure.
Blood pressure: The force of blood against the walls of the arteries. It is measured with a cuff (sphygmomanometer) placed on the upper arm or lower leg and inflated to give a numerical reading (for example, 120/65). Doctors and nurses use the reading
to see if a patient needs certain medicines, fluids and so on.
Bradycardia: Slow heart rate. There are different ranges of normal heart rate for different age groups.
Bulk-billing: When the Medicare program covers all or some costs of health services for people with a Medicare card. Some health services only bulk-bill people under a certain age.
C
Cardiologist: A doctor who specialises in the heart and blood vessels.
Catheter: A soft tube that is inserted into the bladder to allow urine (pee) to flow out. Catheters are sometimes put in before or after surgery, to get a urine sample to test for infection (especially in small children) or when urine measurements need
to be accurate. It is also called a urinary catheter.
Child life therapist: An allied health professional who specialises in supporting children and their families to develop coping strategies during their hospital experience. They use techniques like procedural preparation, medical and therapeutic play
to minimise a child’s stress and help them understand the care they are receiving.
Chronic: A medical condition that lasts for a long time – usually more than six months. Most chronic conditions are not life-threatening, but they can get more serious over time.
Code grey: A code in hospital when an unarmed person is acting aggressively. Staff can call a code grey if they feel threatened by patients or visitors to the hospital. A trained team responds to help calm the person down.
Constipation: Irregularity or inability to use the bowels (do a poo). The hard faeces (poo) cause straining and may result in small tears to the anus (bottom) and bleeding.
Contagious: An infection or disease that can spread between people.
Computerised tomography (CT or CAT scan): A type of medical imaging that shows a three-dimensional (3D) image of the body. It is similar to an x-ray.
Cyanosis: Discolouration of the skin caused by a lack of oxygen in the body. It usually shows as a blue tinge around the lips.
Cyst: A fluid-filled sac that grows in the body.
D
Dentist: A doctor who specialises in teeth, gums and mouths.
Dermatologist: A doctor who specialises in skin.
Diarrhoea: Frequent, very runny bowel movements (poos).
Dietitian: A health professional who specialises in nutrition and diet.
Doctor: A medical practitioner who has completed a medical degree at an accredited university. They are sometimes called physicians. In Australia, all doctors practising medicine must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority
(AHPRA).
Dysphagia: Inability to or trouble swallowing saliva or food.
Dysphasia: Trouble speaking or finding the right words.
E
Electrocardiogram (ECG): A test used to measure electrical activity in the heart. To take an ECG, a health professional applies sticky dots attached to leads onto a person's chest, arms and legs. The machine then takes a 'picture' of the heart’s activity.
It is quick and painless, and usually only takes a few minutes.
Electroencephalogram (EEG): A test used to measure electrical activity in the brain. To take an EEG, a health professional applies sticky dots attached to leads onto a person's head. The machine then takes a 'picture' of the brain's activity.
Elective (planned) surgery: A procedure for a condition that is not a medical emergency. Planned surgeries are usually scheduled in advance.
Electromyogram (EMG): A test used to measure muscle and nerve function.
Endocrinologist: A doctor who specialises in the endocrine system (glands and organs that make hormones).
Enema: A fluid placed into the anus (bottom) to cause a bowel movement. They are most commonly used to treat severe constipation.
Epidermis: The outer layer of skin.
Epistaxis: A nosebleed.
F
Febrile: High body temperature or fever (temperature of 38ºC or more).
Fracture: A break or crack in a bone.
Full blood count/examination (FBE or FBC): A routine blood test used to examine the make-up of the blood.
G
Gastroenterologist: A doctor who specialises in the stomach and digestive system.
General practitioner (GP): A doctor who specialises in looking after primary health concerns for people of all ages. Many people have a local GP they go to for advice and treatments.
Gynaecologist: A doctor who specialises in the female reproductive system.
H
Haematologist: A doctor who specialises in the blood.
Health: A state of total physical, mental and social wellbeing. It is more than just the absence of illness or injury (adapted from WHO 1946).
Health professional: A person who is qualified to provide health care to others within their area of expertise. Many health professions require people to complete specific education and training before they can practice; some must also be licensed.
Hepatologist: A doctor who specialises in the liver.
Hospital-in-the-Home (HITH): Health care provided to hospital inpatients in their own home or another suitable place.
Hypertension: High blood pressure.
Hypotension: Low blood pressure.
I
Intensive Care Unit (ICU): A unit/ward where seriously ill patients are treated.
Intramuscular (IM): Medicine injected into a muscle (for example, a vaccine).
Immunisation: The process of becoming immune to a disease through vaccination.
Immunosuppression (immune deficiency or weakened immune system): When the immune system cannot fight infections as well as normal, or not at all. This is sometimes caused by medicines (for example, chemotherapy) or certain illnesses.
Inpatient: Someone who stays in hospital to get medical care. This is called being ‘admitted’ to hospital. People can be inpatients even if they only stay in a hospital bed for a few hours.
Intravenous (IV) cannula: A small, flexible tube inserted into a vein to deliver fluid therapy or medicines. It is also called a ‘drip.’
L
Laxatives: Medicines that can help relieve constipation by encouraging a bowel movement.
Lumbar puncture/spinal tap: A procedure where a needle is inserted into the lower part of the spinal column (spine or back) to collect fluid for testing.
M
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): A painless test that uses a strong magnetic field to take clear pictures of specific body parts, such as the brain or stomach. The patient lies in a special machine that is like a tunnel.
Maternal and Child Health Nurse (MCHN): A registered nurse (RN) who specialises in infants and young children. They are sometimes called child and family health nurses. In Victoria, MCHNs must also have training in midwifery.
Medicare: An Australian program that makes health care free or lower cost for all Medicare cardholders.
Mental wellbeing: The complete wellbeing and optimal development of a child, including their emotional, behavioural, social and cognitive (intellectual) development.
Mentor: A person who helps a young person when needed and can give support.
Medical Emergency Team (MET) call: A call for medical emergencies across the hospital. Parents, carers or other visitors can also call a MET. A team of health professionals will help the person in need. You should not go to investigate a MET call if it
is not your child, because you may get in the way.
Medical imaging: Technologies that create images of the body’s internal structures, such as bones, organs and tissues. They help with diagnosis, treatment and prevention of medical conditions. Two of the most common medical imaging types are x-rays and
ultrasound.
Metabolic doctor: A doctor who specialises in metabolism.
Microshield: Hand sanitiser that does not need water to clean hands.
Midwife: A health professional who specialises in pregnancy, labour and post-partum care.
Music therapist: A health professional who specialises in using music to help people improve their health and wellbeing.
N
Nausea: A feeling of sickness or queasiness with an urge to vomit.
Nasogastric tube (NG tube): A soft tube that is passed through the nose and into the stomach. It is used to feed, give medicines or withdraw stomach contents.
Nephrologist: A doctor who specialises in kidneys.
Neurologist: A doctor who specialises in the brain and nervous system.
Nurse: A health professional who helps prevent illness and cares for sick or injured people. There are different types of nurses, but the most common are ‘registered nurses’ (RNs) and ‘enrolled nurses’ (ENs).
Nurse unit manager (NUM): A registered nurse (RN) who leads a team of nurses in a hospital unit or clinic.
O
Occupational therapist (OT): A health professional who helps people overcome challenges to complete everyday activities. They often work with people who have trouble with tasks due to injury, illness or disability.
Oncologist: A doctor who specialises in cancers.
Ophthalmologist: A doctor who specialises in eyes and visual systems.
Orthopaedic doctor: A doctor who specialises in bones, joints, muscles and soft tissues.
Otolaryngologist: A doctor who specialises in the ears, nose and throat. It is also known as an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor (ENT).
Outpatient: Someone who gets medical care without staying in hospital. A person who goes to hospital to get an x-ray or have a doctor's appointment, but then goes home, is an outpatient.
Over-the-counter medicines: Medicines for sale in a supermarket or pharmacy without a written letter (prescription) from a doctor (for example, paracetamol).
P
Paediatrician: A doctor who specialises in medicine for children under the age of 18 is a paediatrician. The practice of specialist medicine for children under the age of 18 years is called paediatrics.
Pathologist: A specialist who identifies diseases by studying cells and tissues.
Personal protective equipment (PPE): Any clothing or materials that people wear to shield themselves from hazards. In health care, PPE usually refers to face masks, eye protection and gloves.
Pharmacist: A specialist who ensures the safe and effective use of medicines.
Physiotherapist: An allied health professional who helps people with physical weakness or difficulties due to an illness or injury.
Plastic surgeon: A doctor who specialises in repairing or reconstructing parts of the body.
Prescription (script): An official document where a doctor writes their signature, what medicine a patient needs, how much to take and how long to take it for. In Australia, prescriptions can be paper or electronic (called ‘e-scripts’).
Preventative health care: Any health treatments done before sickness or injury, or to stop you from getting sick or injured. Vaccines are a type of preventative health care. You might also hear the word 'prophylactic' – this means the same thing.
Primary carer: The main adult who looks after a patient under age 18. It is usually one or both parents, but it could also be another family member, guardian or carer.
Procedure: An action to diagnose, monitor or treat a medical condition. Another word for ‘operation’ or ‘surgery.’
Psychologist: An allied health professional who specialises in mental health.
Pulmonologist: A doctor who specialises in the lungs and respiratory tract.
Pulse/heart rate: The number of times the heart beats in one minute. A pulse can be felt in the wrists, the neck or measured by an ECG machine.
R
Radiologist: A doctor who specialises in interpreting images (x-rays and other scans) of the body.
Referral: A letter from your doctor to another health professional requesting their care for a specific condition. It could be to a specialist doctor, like a paediatrician, or an allied health professional, like a psychologist.
Rehabilitation: The process of helping a person recover their health and wellbeing after illness, injury or procedures.
Rheumatologist: A doctor who specialises in diseases of the joints, muscles and bones – especially inflammatory and autoimmune conditions.
S
Social worker: A health professional who supports people going through challenges. They often provide counselling and connect people with other specialised services.
Specialist: In a health context, a specialist is a medical doctor who has done advanced training in a specific area of medicine.
Speech pathologist: A health professional who specialises in communication and swallowing problems.
Spirometer: A test used to assess lung function.
SpO2 or oxygen saturation (sats): The amount of oxygen in your body and blood. It is measured by a painless probe placed on a patient's finger, toe or foot. The readings show the amount of oxygen in the blood as a percentage. This observation is taken
on almost all patients.
Stethoscope: A medical tool to listen to bodily sounds like heartbeats or breathing.
Subcutaneous (SC): Medicine injected underneath layers of skin (for example, insulin).
Subsidised medicine: Medicine that the government pays for some of. In Australia, medicine is subsidised as part of the ‘Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme’ (PBS).
T
Tachycardia: Fast heart rate.
Trigger: Something that causes a symptom to occur in someone with a medical condition (for example, heat can trigger an eczema flare-up). The trigger is not the cause of the actual medical condition. A trigger can also set off a disease in someone with
a genetic predisposition to developing the condition (for example, a viral illness may trigger the first signs of multiple sclerosis).
U
Urea & electrolytes (U&E): A specific blood test that checks the amount of waste products, potassium, magnesium and calcium in your body.
Ultrasound: Technology that uses sound waves to see inside the body. Ultrasounds should not hurt.
Urinalysis: An examination of a urine (pee) sample, usually to check for infection or other problems. It is also called a full ward test (FWT) or dipstick.
Urologist: A doctor who specialises in the urinary system and the male reproductive system.
V
Vaccine: A medical treatment that trains the immune system to fight a disease. Vaccines are given in three main ways: orally (in the mouth), nasally (in the nose) or through injection – the most common.
X
X-ray: Technology that uses electromagnetic radiation to take images of things inside the body, like bones, teeth and organs. It is sometimes used to check for a foreign body (for example, something that may have been swallowed).
Common questions about medical terms
What does it mean to 'advocate' for my child in a health setting?
Advocacy is about expressing your wants and needs. In a paediatric health setting, it means playing an active role in your child’s treatment and care. Some examples of advocating for your child’s health could be telling a doctor or nurse about
their symptoms, providing ideas for their management plan with their care team, or asking to speak with another health professional for a second opinion.
What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?
Both psychologists and psychiatrists specialise in mental health – the main difference between them is medical training. Psychologists are allied health professionals but not medical doctors, whereas psychiatrists are trained medical doctors who
can prescribe medicine.
What is the difference between an emergency department (ED) and an intensive care unit (ICU)?
An emergency department (ED) is the part of a hospital where you get urgent medical care. It is the place paramedics will take patients in an ambulance. Health professionals trained in emergency medicine look at illnesses or injuries, prescribe
any treatments and decide if the patient needs to stay in hospital for more care. An intensive care unit (ICU) is the part of a hospital where health professionals look after people who are seriously ill or have life-threatening injuries.
Patients in the ICU might need medicine or special machines to help them stay alive.
For more information
Many thanks to The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) patient who first created this fact sheet. Developed by the Adolescent Medicine department. We acknowledge the input of RCH consumers and carers.
Reviewed August 2025
Please always seek the most recent advice from a registered and practising clinician.