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.
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 and supplementary medical sciences
- Biochemistry
- Clinical neurophysiology
- Clinical psychology
- Embryology
- Forensic medicine
- Histology
- Anatomy
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Medical statistics
- Neuroscience
- Pathology
- Pharmacology
- Physiatry and rehabiliation medicine
- Physiology
- Public health
- Radiology
- Transfusiology
Applied medical sciences - branches of Medicine - including organs and conditions treated
- Cardiology
- Coronary heart disease -- Cardiac arrhythmias -- Heart attack -- Ischaemic heart disease -- More...
- Dermatology
- Skin
- Acne -- Impetigo -- Plastic surgery -- Psoriasis -- Shingles -- Skin cancer -- Vitiligo
- Parathyroid disease
- Hyperparathyroidism -- Hypoparathyroidism
- Pituitary hormones
- Acromegaly -- Pituitary tumours -- Prolactinoma
- Adrenal cortex
- Adrenal failure -- Conn's syndrome (Mineralocorticoids) -- Cushing's disease (cortisone)
- Small Bowel
- Giardia -- Coeliac disease -- Crohn's disease -- Lymphoma -- Meckel's Diverticulum -- Malasorption
- Colon
- Colon cancer -- Crohn's disease -- Diarrhea -- Diverticulitis -- Infective colitis -- Ulcerative colitis -- More...
- Gallbladder
- Cancer of gallbladder -- Cholecytitis -- Gallstones
- Neurology
- Alzheimer's disease -- Cerebral Palsy -- Epilepsy -- Multiple Sclerosis -- Schizophrenia -- More...
- Obstetrics and gynaecology or Obstetrics and gynecology
- Abortion -- Abruption -- Amniocentesis -- Caesarian section -- Child birth -- Chorionic villus biopsy -- Home birth -- Hydatiform mole -- Miscarriage -- Placenta praevia -- Pre-eclampsia -- Premature labour -- Cervical cancer -- Ectopic pregnancy
- Otorhinolaryngology or ENT (ear-nose-throat medicine)
- Psychiatry
- Bipolar disorder -- Depression -- Mental Retardation -- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder -- More...
- Nephrology
- Glomerulonephritis -- Kidney stones -- Polycystic disease -- Pyelonephritis -- Renal carcinoma -- Renal dialysis -- Renal failure -- Test of renal function
- Pulmonology or Respiratory medicine
- Respiratory system
- Lungs
- Asthma -- Chronic bronchitis -- Lung cancer -- Pneumonia -- Bronchial asthma -- Chronic obstructive lung disease
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
Infectious diseases
Epidemiology -- Tropical medicine
Preventive Medicine
Aerospace Medicine -- Community Health Care -- Occupational Medicine
General surgery
Abdominal and colo-rectal -- Cardiothoracic surgery -- Ear nose and throat -- Endoscopic surgery -- Head and neck. -- Neurosurgery -- [[Oral and maxillofacial surgery] -- ]Ophthalmology -- Orthopaedics -- Orthopedic surgery -- Pediatric surgery -- Plastic surgery -- Thoracic -- Trauma surgery
Other medical specialties
Anesthesiology -- Intensive care medicine -- Nosology -- Pain therapy -- Pediatrics or Paediatrics
Health Care
Clinic -- Hospital -- Nursing -- Midwifery -- Palliative care
Related Sciences
Nutrition -- Pharmacology or Medication -- Physiology -- Biochemistry -- Biostatistics -- Anatomy -- Epidemiology -- * Sanitary professions -- Sanitation
See also: healthcare system, Alternative medicine, Chinese medicine, Timeline of medicine and medical technology, History of medicine, Big killers, Rare diseases.