Introduction to Basic Medical Sciences

• The practice of medicine includes allied professions and technical occupations

Basic Sciences

• Anatomy is the study of the body's shape, structure, and the relationship of its organs, related to morphology of animals and plants
• Biochemistry studies chemical behavior in living systems and is applied to dentistry, veterinary medicine, and pharmacology to investigate drug actions
• Biostatistics (biometry) uses statistical tests to analyze biological data and interpret results
• Cytology or cell biology deals with the structure, composition, function, and interactions of cells within their environment
• Embryology studies the formation and early development of living organisms from ovum fertilization to the fetus stage
• Endocrinology relates to hormones secreted by endocrine organs like the thyroid, adrenals, pituitary, ovaries, pancreas, and testes
• Epidemiology studies the occurrence, distribution, and control of diseases in public health populations
• Genetics studies genes, heredity, their effects on the inheritance of traits, and other biological processes
• Histology studies the microscopic structure of cells and tissues using a light microscope
• Immunology is the medical science that deals with the physiological mechanics of the biological integral defense of all organisms (immune system)
• Microbiology studies microscopic organisms
• Molecular biology studies molecular processes in organisms
• Neuroscience studies the nervous system
• Nutrition studies dietary requirements to prevent health problems
• Pathology studies disease, its causes, mechanisms, and effects on organisms
• Pharmacology studies drugs, their origins, nature, properties, and effects on living organisms, also, biological effects caused by drugs
• Physiology deals with the activities, processes, mechanical, and physical functions of living organisms, closely related to anatomy
• Toxicology studies the nature, effects, detection of poisons, and poisoning treatment

Medical Specialties

• Diagnostic Specialties
• Allergology studies allergies and hypersensitivity disorders on the immunology system
• Angiology studies the circulatory and lymphatic systems, including arteries, vessels, veins, and their diseases
• Cardiology deals with heart disorders, divided into congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, and electrophysiology
• Cellular pathology studies cellular alterations in disease
• Clinical chemistry diagnoses through biochemical analysis of blood, body fluids, and tissues
• Clinical microbiology diagnoses diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites in vitro
• Clinical immunology studies all aspects of the immune system in organisms
• Endocrinology (a subspecialty of internal medicine) diagnoses and treats of endocrine organs
• Gastroenterology (part of internal medicine) studies the gastrointestinal tract, digestive system, diseases, and treatments
• Hematology studies blood diseases like leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma
• Nephrology (branch of internal medicine) studies kidney function, treatments, and diseases, including dialysis and renal transplants
• Nuclear Medicine specializes in radiology using radionuclides for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes
• Ophthalmology deals with disorders and surgery of visual pathways related to eye anatomy and physiology
• Paediatrics or pediatrics deals with healthcare of children to adolescents (average to 18 years)
• Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (branch of internal medicine) restores body parts to look normal
• Radiology uses radiation (like X-rays) or imaging technologies (ultrasound, MRI) to diagnose or treat disease
• Transfusion medicine deals with blood transfusions and blood components and maintains a "blood bank"
• Urology (surgical and internal medicine specialty related to nephrology) studies diseases of the male reproductive system and urinary tract

Clinical Specialties

• Anesthesiology involves administering anesthesia and monitoring patients during surgery and other procedures
• Dermatology treats diseases and disorders of the skin and its appendages
• Emergency medicine cares for conditions resulting from accidents or other urgent needs
• Hospital medicine is the general medical care of hospitalized patients; doctors are called hospitalists
• Internal medicine diagnoses and treats many medical conditions in adults
• Naturopathic medicine believes in the body's natural healing forces
• Neurology studies the structure, functioning, and diseases of the nervous system
• Obstetrics and gynecology (Ob/Gyn) focuses on conditions specific to women
• Palliative care is an approach to life-threatening chronic illnesses, especially at the end of life

Radiologic Technology Procedures and Terminology

• Angiocardiography uses X-ray imaging of the heart, coronary arteries, and great vessels by injecting dye via a catheter; CT or MRI can create 3D images of blood vessels
• Angiogram involves injecting dye/contrast media into the bloodstream and taking X-rays to visualize blood vessels; CT or MRI can create 3D images
• Angiography examines blood vessels using X-ray, CT, or MR imaging with radiopaque contrast material to image arteries in various body parts
• Attenuation is the loss of energy of a radiant energy beam due to absorption, scattering, and beam divergence
• Barium enema is an X-ray exam that detects changes or abnormalities in the large intestine (colon)
• Barium sulfate is a radiopaque powder used as a contrast material to enhance visibility in X-ray images
• Radiopaque substances limit the penetration of X-rays and other forms of radiation
• Biopsy removes tissue from living patients for diagnostic examination
• Bone scan uses a radiotracer (technetium-99m) injected into a vein to travel to the bone and is detected by a special camera