Health Glossary

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

Eardrum

The eardrum, also called the tympanic membrane, is a thin, flexible membrane that separates the external auditory canal from the…
View Definition →

Edema

Abnormal accumulation of excess fluid in the tissues of the body. Edema occurs when fluid moves out of blood vessels…
View Definition →

EFSA

EFSA stands for the European Food Safety Authority, an independent European Union agency that provides scientific advice and risk assessment…
View Definition →

El Niño

El Niño is a climate phenomenon in which sea-surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean become warmer…
View Definition →

Elastomer

An elastomer is a polymeric material that can undergo substantial deformation and return approximately to its original shape when the…
View Definition →

Embryo

An embryo is a developing human during the early stage of prenatal development, from implantation through approximately the end of…
View Definition →

Emergency

A sudden or serious medical situation requiring prompt assessment or treatment because delay could result in significant harm. A medical…
View Definition →

Endemic

Consistently present at an expected or characteristic level within a particular population, geographic area, or setting. A disease is described…
View Definition →

Endocrine System

The endocrine system is the body’s network of glands and hormone-producing tissues that regulate growth, metabolism, reproduction, stress responses, and…
View Definition →

Environmental Noise

Environmental noise is unwanted or potentially harmful sound arising from sources in the surrounding environment, including transportation, industry, construction, and…
View Definition →

Epidermis

The outermost layer of the skin that forms the body’s primary protective barrier against the external environment. It helps protect…
View Definition →

Eukaryote

An organism whose cells contain a nucleus enclosed by a membrane and typically contain other membrane-bound organelles. Eukaryotes include animals,…
View Definition →