Medical Dictionary

Health Glossary

Demystifying medical language. Browse or search for clear, human-centered explanations of common medical terms.

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Tiny living organisms that exist almost everywhere. Some bacteria are harmless or helpful, while others can cause infections. Examples of…

Not cancerous and usually less dangerous than malignant disease. A benign tumor does not normally spread to other parts of…

A yellow substance produced when red blood cells break down. High bilirubin levels can cause jaundice. Related:

A medical procedure where a small sample of tissue is removed and examined to help diagnose disease. Biopsies are commonly…

A blackhead is an open comedone in which the blocked hair follicle remains open at the skin’s surface. The dark…

The force of blood pushing against the walls of blood vessels. Blood pressure that stays too high over time is…

The amount of glucose present in the blood. The body uses glucose for energy, but blood sugar that stays too…

A blood vessel is a tube that carries blood throughout the body. Blood vessels transport oxygen, nutrients, hormones, immune cells,…

A measurement that compares weight to height. BMI is sometimes used to estimate whether a person may be underweight, overweight,…

Inflammation of the airways that carry air to the lungs. Bronchitis often causes: Related:

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