Medicine

Medicine refers both to an area of science and a group of professions. It is, in the broadest sense of the term, the science and practice of the prevention and curing of human diseases, and other ailments of the human body or mind. However, it is often used only to refer to those matters dealt with by physicians and surgeons, excluding such areas as dentistry and clinical psychology.

Medicine has two aspects: both as an area of knowledge (a science), and as an application of that knowledge (the medical professions).

Evidence-based medicine is an attempt to link these two aspects through the use of the scientific method and techniques derived from safety engineering.

In the context of the anthropology of religion, medicine refers to objects with supernatural power and/or the supernatural power that such items possess.

Medical Sciences

Medicine has both its foundational sciences (anatomy, physiology, histology, pharmacology, microbiology, biochemistry), and specialized branches dealing with particular organs or diseases.

The foundational sciences of medicine frequently overlap with other areas of science (such as veterinary science or chemistry).

The various specialized branches of the science of medicine dealing with particular organs or diseases are also specialized medical professions. Thus it is difficult to distinguish clearly between the two.

Medical Professions

The primary medical professions are those of physicians and surgeons. Both professions have many specializations. Dentistry and clinical psychology are separate from medicine in a strict sense, but are both medical fields by the wider definition of the term.

There are also many allied health professions (AHPs): nursing (the care of sick patients), midwifery, pharmacy, diagnostic fields (pathology, medical imaging), radiation therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, dietetics and bioengineering.

Teaching of Medicine

Medical training is long and grueling, involving several years of university study followed by several more years of residential practice at a hospital. Entry to a medical degree in some countries (e.g. the United States) requires the completion of another degree first, while in other countries (e.g. Australia -- though it is moving towards the American model) medical training can be commenced immediately after secondary education.

The name of the medical degree gained at the end varies: some countries (e.g. the US) call it 'Doctor of Medicine' (abbreviated 'M.D.'), while others (e.g. Australia, Pakistan) call it 'Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (or Chirurgie)' (a double degree, frequently abbreviated 'M.B.B.S' or 'M.B.B.Ch.'). In either case graduates of a medical degree may call themselves doctor. A doctorate of medicine is not a PhD which requires original research, but is like a doctorate in law (J.D.) or theology (Th.D.).

A graduate can then enter general practice and become a general practitioner; or they can specialise in any one of a number of medical fields, and become a specialist; or they can become a surgeon. No matter what they choose, even more training is involved.

Branches of Medicine

Basic, supplementary and related sciences

• Anatomy
  • Histology
  • Embryology
• Biochemistry
• Clinical neurophysiology
• Clinical psychology
• Epidemiology -- Public health
• Forensic medicine
• Immunology
• Microbiology
• Medical statistics -- Biostatistics
• Neuroscience
• Nutrition
• Pathology
• Pharmacology
• Physiatry and rehabiliation medicine
• Physiology

Applied medical sciences - branches of medicine - pro tempore including organs and conditions treated

Family medicine or Primary care or General practice

Internal medicine

Cardiology

Coronary heart disease -- Cardiac arrhythmias -- Heart attack -- Ischaemic heart disease -- More...

Gastroenterology

Oesophagus

Achalasia -- Barrett's disease -- Cancer of oesophagus -- Heart burn -- Hiatus hernia -- Reflux oesophagitis -- Oesophageal pouch

Stomach

Cancer of stomach -- Gastric ulcer -- Helicobacter pylori

Small bowel

Giardia -- Coeliac disease -- Crohn's disease -- Lymphoma -- Meckel's Diverticulum -- Malasorption

Pancreas

Carcinoma of pancreas -- Cystic fibrosis -- Diabetes -- Pancreatitis -- More...

Vermiform appendix

Appendicitis -- Carcinoid tumour

Colon

Colon cancer -- Crohn's disease -- Diarrhea -- Diverticulitis -- Infective colitis -- Ulcerative colitis -- More...

Endocrinology

Thyroid

Hypothyroidism -- Graves disease -- Thyroid cancer -- Thyroiditis -- More...

Parathyroid disease

Hyperparathyroidism -- Hypoparathyroidism

Pituitary hormones

Acromegaly -- Pituitary tumours -- Prolactinoma

Adrenal cortex

Adrenal failure -- Conn's syndrome (Mineralocorticoids) -- Cushing's disease (cortisone)

Infectious diseases -- Tropical medicine

Haematology

Blood

Hepatology

Liver

Hepatocarcinoma -- Liver transplant -- Mestatic tumour -- Non-viral hepatitis -- Viral Hepatitis -- More...

Gallbladder

Cancer of gallbladder -- Cholecytitis -- Gallstones

Nephrology

Glomerulonephritis -- Kidney stones -- Polycystic disease -- Pyelonephritis -- Renal carcinoma -- Renal dialysis -- Renal failure -- Test of renal function

Dermatology

Skin -- Acne -- Impetigo -- Plastic surgery -- Psoriasis -- Shingles -- Skin cancer -- Vitiligo

Neurology

Alzheimer's disease -- Cerebral Palsy -- Epilepsy -- Multiple Sclerosis -- Schizophrenia -- More...

Obstetrics and Gynecology or Gynecology

Abortion -- Abruption -- Amniocentesis -- Caesarean section -- Child birth -- Chorionic villus biopsy -- Home birth -- Hydatiform mole -- Miscarriage -- Placenta praevia -- Pre-eclampsia -- Premature labour -- Cervical cancer -- Ectopic pregnancy

Oncology -- Cancer

Breast cancer -- Cervical cancer -- Prostate cancer -- Stomach cancer

Ophthalmology

Eye

Otorhinolaryngology or ENT (ear-nose-throat medicine)

Ear -- Nose -- Throat

Psychiatry

Psychotherapy

Bipolar disorder -- Depression -- Mental Retardation -- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder -- More...

Urology

Prostatitis -- Cystitis -- Prostate cancer -- Bladder stones -- Bladder cancer

Pulmonology or Respiratory medicine

Respiratory system -- Lungs

Asthma -- Chronic bronchitis -- Lung cancer -- Pneumonia -- Bronchial asthma -- Chronic obstructive lung disease

Rheumatology

Ankylosing spondylitis

Preventive Medicine

Community Health Care -- Occupational Medicine

Diagnostic Specialities

Anatomical pathology -- Biochemical pathology -- Forensic Pathology -- Haematology -- Immunology -- Microbiology -- Nuclear Medicine -- Radiology

Emergency Medicine

CPR -- Medical Toxicology -- EMS -- History of Emergency Medicine -- Complaint driven medicine -- Traumatology -- Trauma -- Wound care

Perioperative medicine

Anesthesiology -- Transfusiology or Transfusion medicine

Surgical specialties

General surgery

Abdominal surgery -- Endoscopic surgery or Minimally invasive surgery surgery

Cardiothoracic surgery

Neurosurgery

Oral and maxillofacial surgery

Orthopedic surgery -- Trauma surgery or Traumatology

Pediatric surgery

Plastic surgery

Other medical specialties

Intensive care medicine -- Pain therapy -- Pediatrics or Paediatrics -- Andrology -- Palliative care

Institutions in medicine

Clinic -- Hospital

Entries To Be Sorted

Sanitary professions -- Sanitation -- Nosology -- Nursing -- Midwifery -- Telemedicine -- eHealth -- Consumer Health Informatics -- Telehealth -- Rheumatology -- Aerospace Medicine

See also: healthcare system, Alternative medicine, Chinese medicine, Timeline of medicine and medical technology, History of medicine, Big killers, Rare diseases.