Health and Medical
English Basic Vocabulary - Part 2 · 50 lessons
What does “Leukemia” mean?
Correct Answer (A): This is the accurate medical definition. Leukemia is a *cancer* of blood-forming cells, so it's malignant (harmful), progressive (gets worse), and involves abnormal white blood cell production.
Why B is wrong: It describes a benign (non-cancerous), normal condition—the opposite of leukemia. Leukemia is serious and life-threatening, not benign, and produces *abnormal* cells, not normal ones.
What does “Stethoscope” mean?
A is correct: A stethoscope is a real medical tool doctors use to hear heartbeats, breathing, and other internal sounds by placing it on a patient's chest or other body parts.
B is wrong: This describes a depressant drug, not an instrument. It has nothing to do with listening to body sounds. The word you're thinking of would be something like "sedative," not "stethoscope."
What does “Metabolism” mean?
A is correct: Metabolism refers to all the chemical reactions happening inside your body—like breaking down food for energy, building new cells, and removing waste. These processes keep you alive.
B is wrong: That definition describes dehydration (lack of water), not metabolism. Dehydration is a condition, while metabolism is an ongoing biological process.
What does “Vitamins” mean?
Why A is correct:
Vitamins are organic molecules your body needs for health but can't make itself, so you must get them from food. They're needed in small amounts and support growth, energy, and body functions.
Why B is wrong:
That definition describes an antimicrobial or disinfectant (like bleach or antibiotics)—something that kills germs, not a nutrient your body needs.
What does “Infection” mean?
A is correct: "Infection" refers to when harmful microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi) enter your body and multiply, causing illness. This describes both the active process and the resulting condition.
B is wrong: That's the definition of insulin, a completely different term. While it sounds similar, insulin is a hormone that manages blood sugar—it has nothing to do with infections or disease.
What does “Dehydration” mean?
A is correct: Dehydration literally means "removal of water" (de- = remove, hydration = water). Your body needs water and salts to function, so losing them is dangerous.
B is wrong: That describes *auscultation*, not dehydration. A stethoscope has nothing to do with water loss.
What does “Antibiotic” mean?
Why A is correct:
Antibiotics are drugs specifically designed to fight bacteria and other microorganisms by either stopping their growth or killing them. This is their defining function.
Why B is wrong:
That's the definition of vitamins, not antibiotics. Vitamins are nutrients your body needs for health, while antibiotics are medicines that target invading germs—two completely different things.
What does “Fever” mean?
A is correct because fever is specifically a body temperature above the normal range (usually above 98.6°F/37°C), and the description accurately includes common accompanying symptoms like shivering, headache, and potentially delirium in severe cases.
B is wrong because that's the definition of a "pulse" or "heartbeat"—the rhythmic throbbing of arteries as blood moves through them, which is completely unrelated to fever.
What does “Insulin” mean?
Why A is correct:
Insulin is literally a hormone made by the pancreas that controls blood sugar levels by helping cells absorb glucose.
Why B is wrong:
That describes medical imaging (like X-rays or CT scans), not insulin. You might be thinking of terms like "imaging" or specific scan types, but that's completely unrelated to what insulin is.
What does “Pulse” mean?
A is correct: A pulse is the wave of pressure you feel when blood pumps through arteries with each heartbeat. You can feel it at your wrist or neck—it's a fundamental vital sign.
B is wrong: That describes a fever, not a pulse. While fever and pulse are both health measurements, they're completely different things. Fever involves elevated body temperature; pulse involves heart rhythm and blood flow.
What does “X-Ray” mean?
A is correct because X-rays are a type of radiation with high energy and extremely short wavelengths—this is their defining characteristic. They can penetrate soft tissues and many solid materials, which is why they're useful in medical imaging.
B is wrong because that's the definition of insulin, a hormone. While insulin does regulate blood glucose, it has nothing to do with X-rays.
What does “Blood Pressure” mean?
Correct Answer (A): Blood pressure is the outward force your blood exerts as it pushes against artery and vein walls. Your heart pumps blood, creating pressure that keeps it flowing through your body.
Why B is wrong: Blood doesn't *remove* force from vessel walls—it *applies* force to them. "Removes" describes the opposite of what actually happens.
What does “Cholesterol” mean?
Correct Answer: A
Cholesterol is a waxy substance your body makes and gets from food—it's present in your bloodstream and cells. Your body actually needs some cholesterol for important functions like making hormones and vitamin D.
Why B is wrong:
Option B says cholesterol is "expelled from" your blood, which is incorrect. While your liver does remove excess cholesterol, cholesterol itself circulates *in* your blood rather than being expelled out of it. The word "found in" correctly describes where cholesterol is located.
What does “Dentistry” mean?
A is correct because dentistry is literally defined as the medical field focused on teeth, gums, and mouth health—studying problems, preventing them, diagnosing them, and treating them.
B is wrong because it says dentistry has "no involvement" in these things, which is the opposite of what dentistry actually does. This is a contradictory definition.
What does “Epilepsy” mean?
Why A is correct:
Epilepsy is defined by *sudden, recurring seizures* caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. These episodes can involve loss of consciousness, convulsions, or unusual sensations—which is exactly what option A describes.
Why B is wrong:
Option B describes the *opposite* of epilepsy—it lists normal brain function and the absence of seizures. This is what a healthy brain looks like, not epilepsy.
What does “Fibromyalgia” mean?
Why A is correct:
The term "fibromyalgia" literally means pain in fibrous tissues and muscles. Option A accurately describes the condition: widespread pain throughout the body, extreme tiredness, and tender points (localized areas that hurt when pressed).
Why B is wrong:
This is the opposite of what fibromyalgia actually is. People with fibromyalgia *do* experience pain and fatigue—they don't lack these symptoms. This option contradicts the definition entirely.
What does “Glaucoma” mean?
Correct Answer: A
Glaucoma is a disease where increased eye pressure damages the optic nerve, leading to vision loss and potentially blindness if untreated. It's a serious condition that *causes* harm rather than prevents it.
Why B is wrong:
Glaucoma doesn't *prevent* blindness—it's actually one of the leading *causes* of blindness worldwide. The word describes a harmful condition, not a protective one.
What does “Hepatitis” mean?
• A is correct: "Hepatitis" breaks down into "hepat-" (liver) + "-itis" (inflammation). So it literally means liver inflammation. This can be caused by viruses, alcohol, autoimmune disease, or other factors.
• B is wrong: The suffix "-itis" always indicates inflammation or disease, never health. If the liver were healthy, we'd use a different term entirely.
What does “Immunodeficiency” mean?
Correct Answer (A):
"Immunodeficiency" literally means the immune system is weak or missing ("deficiency" = lack/weakness). People with immunodeficiency get sick more easily because their body can't fight off infections properly.
Why B is wrong:
Option B describes a *strong* immune system, which is the opposite of immunodeficiency. That would be "immunocompetence," not immunodeficiency.
What does “Joints” mean?
A is correct. Joints are the connection points where bones meet and link together, allowing your skeleton to move and bend. This is their actual anatomical function.
B is wrong. Bones don't work when they're disconnected—if bones were separated, you couldn't move at all. The word "disconnected" contradicts what joints actually do.
What does “Kidney Disease” mean?
Why A is correct:
Kidney disease by definition involves damage to kidney tissue that reduces how well they filter waste and regulate fluids. This is the medical reality—kidney disease impairs function, not improves it.
Why B is wrong:
Diseases don't enhance or improve organ function; they harm it. If something *improved* kidney function, it would be a treatment or benefit, not a disease. The word "disease" inherently means something is wrong or damaged.
What does “Bacteria” mean?
Why A is correct:
Bacteria are indeed microscopic (too small to see without a microscope) and mostly single-celled organisms found in nearly every environment on Earth—soil, water, air, and even inside other organisms.
Why B is wrong:
This describes larger organisms like animals or plants, not bacteria. Bacteria are far too tiny to be seen with the naked eye, and they're almost always one cell, not multicellular.
What does “Virus” mean?
Why A is correct:
A virus is a tiny infectious particle that must get inside a living cell to copy itself—it can't survive or reproduce on its own outside cells. This is the defining characteristic of viruses.
Why B is wrong:
This gets almost everything backwards. Viruses are *small*, not large. They *are* infectious, not non-infectious. And they replicate *inside* cells, not outside them.
What does “Mammogram” mean?
A is correct: A mammogram is a medical imaging test that uses x-rays to take pictures of breast tissue, helping doctors detect early signs of cancer or other abnormalities.
B is wrong: This reverses the purpose entirely—mammograms are *preventive* tools designed to *detect* cancer, not promote or cause it. The word "promote" makes no medical sense in this context.
What does “Antiseptic” mean?
Correct answer: A
Antiseptics are cleaning agents applied directly to skin and living tissue to kill or stop the growth of microorganisms, preventing infection. The prefix "anti-" means against, so antiseptics work *against* germs.
Why B is wrong:
Option B says antiseptics *promote* infection, which is the opposite of what they do. Promoting infection would describe a *pro-septic* substance (if that existed), not an antiseptic.
What does “Sterilization” mean?
A is correct. Sterilization means removing or killing all microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi) to make something completely clean and safe. This is why it's used in hospitals, laboratories, and food processing.
B is wrong. This describes the opposite process—contamination, not sterilization. Adding bacteria would make something less safe, not more.
What does “Heart Rate” mean?
Correct Answer (A): Heart rate measures how many times your heart *contracts* (squeezes) per minute. Each contraction pumps blood out to your body, so it's the contraction that matters for measuring heart activity.
Why B is wrong: While the heart does expand (relax) between beats, we don't measure heart rate by counting expansions. The expansion is just the heart refilling with blood—the contraction is what actually does the work of pumping. Counting expansions would give you the same number anyway, but it's not the standard definition.
What does “Ultrasound” mean?
Why A is correct:
Ultrasound uses *high-frequency* sound waves (above human hearing range) that bounce off internal structures to create real-time images of organs, tissues, and babies in the womb. This is the actual medical definition.
Why B is wrong:
- Ultrasound uses *high-frequency* waves, not low-frequency ones. Low-frequency waves wouldn't produce detailed medical images.
- Ultrasound images internal structures, not external surfaces. If you need to see the outside of your body, you'd just use your eyes or a camera.
What does “Mental Health” mean?
Why A is correct:
This is the WHO's official definition of mental health. It describes a *positive* state focused on well-being, functioning, and contribution—not just the absence of illness.
Why B is wrong:
This describes *poor* mental health or mental illness, not mental health itself. Mental health is about what's going *right*, not what's going wrong.
What does “Dialysis” mean?
A is correct because dialysis literally filters out harmful waste products and excess water that healthy kidneys would normally remove. It's a life-sustaining treatment that mimics kidney function when kidneys fail.
B is wrong because it says dialysis *adds* waste and water to the blood—the opposite of what actually happens. That would harm the patient, not help them. Dialysis removes these things, not adds them.
What does “E K G” mean?
Correct answer: A test that measures the electrical activity of the heartbeat.
EKG (also spelled ECG) stands for electrocardiogram—a diagnostic tool that records the heart's electrical signals as it beats. Doctors use it to detect irregular rhythms, heart damage, and other cardiac problems.
Why B is wrong: An EKG doesn't suppress (stop or reduce) electrical activity—it just captures it. If a test actually suppressed heart activity, it would be harmful, not helpful for diagnosis.
What does “Lipids” mean?
Why A is correct:
This is the scientific definition of lipids. It accurately describes their key properties: they dissolve in nonpolar solvents (not water), they're major building blocks of cells alongside proteins and carbohydrates, and it gives real examples (fats, waxes, phospholipids). This covers what lipids actually are and do.
Why B is wrong:
This is the opposite of the truth. Lipids ARE crucial for cells—they form cell membranes, store energy, and serve many other vital functions. This option directly contradicts what we know about biology.
What does “Proteins” mean?
Why A is correct:
This is the accurate scientific definition of proteins. It correctly identifies that proteins are complex molecules made of amino acids linked by peptide bonds, contain specific elements (C, H, N, O, S, and sometimes others), and serve vital biological functions like enzymes and hormones.
Why B is wrong:
This contradicts what proteins actually are. Proteins are *not* simple—they're extremely complex. They *do* contain essential biological compounds and *are* essential biological compounds themselves. This option is backwards.
What does “Carbohydrates” mean?
Why A is correct:
This definition accurately describes carbohydrates—they're made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms, include sugars/starches/cellulose, are produced by plants, and are a major food source for animals.
Why B is wrong:
This is factually incorrect. Carbohydrates are actually *very significant* food sources for animals—they're one of the three main macronutrients (along with proteins and fats) and provide energy for nearly all living things.
What does “Electrolytes” mean?
A is correct because electrolytes are specifically substances that conduct electricity when dissolved or melted by allowing ions to move freely. This is the proper scientific definition.
B is wrong because it describes the *opposite* of what electrolytes do—electrolytes *enable* electrical conduction, not prevent it. Substances that block electricity are called insulators.
What does “Bedsores” mean?
Correct Answer (A):
Bedsores are injuries caused by prolonged pressure that cuts off blood supply to skin and tissue, causing them to break down and ulcerate. "Decubitus ulcer" is the medical term for the same condition, commonly seen in people who are bedridden or immobile for long periods.
Why B is wrong:
Option B describes the *opposite* of bedsores—it talks about healing and healthy blood supply, when bedsores actually result from *lack* of blood supply and tissue damage.
What does “Atrophy” mean?
Correct Answer: A
"Atrophy" means tissues or muscles become smaller and weaker, often from disuse or disease—like when an astronaut's muscles shrink in space or a broken arm gets thin in a cast.
Why B is wrong:
That describes *hypertrophy* (growth), which is the opposite of atrophy. Atrophy is loss, not gain.
What does “Musculoskeletal” mean?
Correct Answer: A
"Musculoskeletal" is a compound word combining "muscle" + "skeletal," so it literally means involving both muscles and bones/skeleton together. This term describes body systems that work as a unit—like how muscles attach to bones to create movement.
Why B is wrong: It says the opposite of what the word means. The prefix "myo-" means muscle and "skeletal" refers to bones, so "musculoskeletal" absolutely *does* relate to both, not neither.
What does “Physiologic” mean?
Why A is correct:
"Physiologic" literally means "of or relating to physiology"—the study of how body systems work. It describes anything connected to the body's normal functions and processes, like heart rate, digestion, or breathing.
Why B is wrong:
This is the opposite of what "physiologic" means. B describes something *unrelated* to body functions, which would be non-physiologic or pathologic (abnormal). The word "un-" directly contradicts the meaning of physiologic.
What does “Circulatory System” mean?
A is correct because the circulatory system's main job is to move blood and lymph throughout your body to deliver oxygen and nutrients to cells.
B is wrong because it contradicts what the circulatory system actually does—it *does* circulate blood and lymph, so saying it doesn't makes no sense.
What does “Respiratory System” mean?
Correct Answer (A): This is the accurate definition. The respiratory system's job is to bring oxygen into the body and remove carbon dioxide waste. The examples (lungs for mammals, gills for fish) show how different organisms have adapted the same basic function.
Why B is wrong: It's backwards—it defines what the respiratory system is NOT rather than what it IS. The respiratory system is directly involved in oxygen intake and carbon dioxide release, not uninvolved in these processes.
What does “Phlebotomy” mean?
Why A is correct:
"Phlebotomy" comes from Greek roots: "phleb-" (vein) + "-tomy" (to cut). It literally means cutting into a vein to collect blood samples for medical testing or donation.
Why B is wrong:
This describes *injection* or *infusion*—putting fluid *into* veins. That's the opposite direction. The "-tomy" suffix means cutting/incision, not putting something in. If it were about injecting, it would use a different medical term.
What does “Dyspnea” mean?
A is correct: "Dyspnea" is a medical term meaning shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. The prefix "dys-" means abnormal or difficult, so dyspnea literally means difficult breathing.
B is wrong: This describes *normal* breathing. The opposite prefix would be "eu-" (meaning good or normal), as in "eupnea," which means easy, normal breathing. Dyspnea is the opposite condition.
What does “Angioplasty” mean?
Correct Answer (A): "Angio-" means blood vessel and "-plasty" means to repair or reshape. Angioplasty is a procedure that opens up narrowed or blocked arteries to restore blood flow, often using a balloon catheter or stent.
Why B is wrong: This describes the *opposite* of what angioplasty does. Angioplasty unblocks vessels; it doesn't create blockages. That would be harmful to the patient, not therapeutic.
What does “Rheumatology” mean?
A is correct because rheumatology literally focuses on conditions affecting joints, muscles, and connective tissues—rheumatoid arthritis is its most famous condition.
B is wrong because it's the opposite of what rheumatology does. Rheumatologists specialize in the *musculoskeletal system*, not organs outside it (like the heart or lungs, which other specialists handle).
What does “Echocardiogram” mean?
Correct Answer (A): "Echo" means sound/reflection, and "cardio" means heart. An echocardiogram uses ultrasound (sound waves) to create live images of your heart's structure and function.
Why B is wrong: That describes an ultrasound of the brain, not an echocardiogram. The "cardio" part specifically refers to the heart, not the brain.
What does “Endoscopy” mean?
Correct Answer (A):
"Endoscopy" comes from "endo-" (inside) + "scopy" (to look). It's a procedure where doctors insert a thin camera into the body to directly see inside hollow organs like the stomach, colon, or lungs.
Why B is wrong:
Option B describes an external examination, but endoscopy specifically means looking *inside* the body, not on the surface. External exams would be called things like "physical examination" or "inspection."
What does “Catheter” mean?
A is correct. A catheter is a hollow tube inserted into the body to deliver or remove fluids—like a urinary catheter that drains urine from the bladder, or an IV catheter that delivers medication.
B is wrong. A catheter doesn't block fluid flow; it does the opposite—it creates a pathway for fluids to move in or out. If you wanted to block flow, you'd use a different device like a plug or clamp.
What does “Nephrology” mean?
Correct Answer: A
The word "nephrology" comes from "nephr-" (Greek for kidney) + "-ology" (study of). So it literally means "the study of kidneys," making it the medical specialty focused on kidney disease and function.
Why B is wrong:
The heart is studied in cardiology (from "cardio-" meaning heart). Nephrology is exclusively about kidneys, not the cardiovascular system.
What does “Otolaryngology” mean?
Correct Answer (A):
"Otolaryngology" breaks down into three Greek roots: "oto" (ear), "laryngo" (larynx/voice box), and "ology" (study of). So it literally means the study and treatment of ear, nose, and throat conditions—this is the actual medical definition.
Why B is wrong:
Option B describes internal organs, which is way too broad and doesn't match the specific word parts. That would be closer to gastroenterology or general internal medicine, not otolaryngology.
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