Category Archives: OET Vocabulary

Lumbar Triangle – Meaning and Usage in Medical English

Lumbar Triangle – Meaning and Usage in Medical English

👁 What Does “Lumbar Triangle” Mean? The lumbar triangle refers to a small triangular area in the lower back. The word lumbar comes from the Latin lumbus, meaning lower back, while triangle simply describes its shape. In anatomy, this term is used to describe a defined region rather than a muscle or organ. 🔍 Clinical […]

Infrascapular Region – The Medical Term for “Below the Shoulder Blade”

Infrascapular Region – The Medical Term for “Below the Shoulder Blade”

👁 What Does “Infrascapular Region” Mean? The infrascapular region literally means the area below the scapula, or shoulder blade. The term comes from Latin: infra meaning below, and scapula meaning shoulder blade. In medicine, this term is used to describe a specific part of the upper back, rather than a vague location like “lower shoulder […]

Iliac Crest – The Medical Term for “the top edge of the hip bone”

Iliac Crest – The Medical Term for “the top edge of the hip bone”

👁 What Does “Iliac Crest” Mean? The iliac crest is the curved, upper edge of the hip bone that you can often feel just under the skin. The word iliac comes from the Latin ilium, meaning hip, while crest refers to a ridge or raised edge.Put together, iliac crest literally means the ridge of the […]

Groin – The Medical Term for “the fold between the abdomen and thigh”

Groin – The Medical Term for “the fold between the abdomen and thigh”

👁 What Does “Groin” Mean? The groin refers to the fold where the lower abdomen meets the upper thigh. The word comes from Middle English and Old French roots (groyne, meaning “fold” or “angle”), describing the natural crease in this region. In medicine, the term appears frequently because many important anatomical structures pass through this […]

Umbilicus – Meaning and Usage in Medical English

Umbilicus – The Medical Term for “Belly Button”

👁 What Does “Umbilicus” Mean? The word umbilicus literally means the center point of the abdomen, commonly known as the belly button. It comes from the Latin word umbilicus, meaning navel or central point. In anatomy and clinical communication, umbilicus is used instead of “belly button” because it sounds professional and avoids informal language. 🔍 […]

Loin – Meaning and Usage in Medical English

Loing – Meaning and Usage in Medical English

👁 What Does “Loin” Mean? Loin refers to the area of the lower back on either side of the spine, between the ribs and the hips, usually overlying the kidneys. The term comes from Latin lumbus, meaning “the lower back or flank.” In modern medical English, loin is commonly used in clinical descriptions, especially when […]

Anterior Superior Iliac Spine – Meaning and Usage in Medical English

Anterior Superior Iliac Spine – The Medical Term for “Front hip bone landmark”

👁 What Does “Anterior Superior Iliac Spine” Mean? Anterior superior iliac spine refers to the prominent bony projection at the front of the pelvis, on the upper edge of the iliac bone. The term comes from Latin origins: anterior meaning “front,” superior meaning “upper,” iliac relating to the pelvis, and spine referring to a sharp […]

Abdomen – Meaning and Usage in Medical English

Abdomen – The Medical Term for “the belly or stomach area

👁 What Does “Abdomen” Mean? The word abdomen refers to the part of the body between the chest and the pelvis that contains many major organs. The term comes from the Latin abdōmen, meaning “belly” or “lower trunk.” In everyday English, people often say “stomach,” but in clinical and academic settings, healthcare professionals use abdomen […]

Flank – Meaning and Usage in Medical English

Flank – The Medical Term for “the side of the body between the ribs and hip”

👁 What Does “Flank” Mean? Flank refers to the side of the body between the lower ribs and the hip. The term comes from modern English, originally describing the side or edge of something, and it was later adopted into medical language to describe this specific body region. In clinical contexts, it is commonly used […]

Hypochondriac Region – Meaning and Usage in Medical English

Hypochondriac Region – The Medical Term for “Upper Side of the Abdomen”

👁 What Does “Hypochondriac Region” Mean? The hypochondriac region refers to the upper side areas of the abdomen located just beneath the rib cage, on both the right and left sides. The word comes from the Greek hypo (“under”) and chondros (“cartilage”), referring to the cartilage of the ribs. In anatomy, it is one of […]