Medical English vocabulary for the OET and for clinical practice. Learn the anatomical and clinical terms used in case notes, referral letters and consultations, with clear definitions, collocations, pronunciation and example sentences. The Word of the Day series works through the body from head to toe, pairing each medical term with the everyday word patients use.
The anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) is the bony point at the front of the hip bone that you can feel just below the waistline. 👁 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 […]
The abdomen, or belly, is the part of the body between the chest and the pelvis that contains the stomach, intestines, liver and other organs. 👁 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 flank is the side of the body between the lower ribs and the hip, where flank pain often points to the kidney. 👁 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 […]
The hypochondriac region is the upper area of the abdomen on each side, just beneath the lower ribs, over the liver and the spleen. 👁 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 epigastric fossa is the medical term for the pit of the stomach: the shallow hollow in the upper middle abdomen just below the breastbone. 👁 What Does “Epigastric Fossa” Mean? Epigastric fossa is the medical term for the shallow hollow located in the upper mid-abdomen, just below the sternum (breastbone). The word comes from […]
The costal arch, or costal margin, is the curved lower edge of the rib cage formed by the cartilage of ribs 7 to 10. 👁 What Does “Costal Arch” Mean? The costal arch is the curved lower border of the rib cage formed by the cartilage of ribs 7 to 10. The word costal comes […]
The infrasternal angle, or subcostal angle, is the V-shaped angle where the lower ribs meet just below the breastbone. 👁 What Does “Infrasternal Angle” Mean? The infrasternal angle is the angle formed where the lower ribs meet just beneath the sternum. The term comes from Latin roots: infra meaning “below,” and sternum, the breastbone of […]
The xiphoid process is the small, pointed piece of cartilage and bone at the lower tip of the breastbone (sternum). 👁 What Does “Xiphoid Process” Mean? The term xiphoid process refers to the small projection at the lower end of the sternum (breastbone). The word comes from the Greek xiphos, meaning sword, because of its […]
The midclavicular line (MCL) is an imaginary vertical line drawn down the chest from the midpoint of the collarbone, used to locate findings. 👁 What Does “Midclavicular Line” Mean? The midclavicular line (MCL) is a vertical reference line drawn downward from the midpoint of the clavicle. The term comes from modern anatomical English — mid- […]
The supraclavicular fossa is the medical term for the hollow just above the collarbone, on each side of the base of the neck. 👁 What Does “Supraclavicular Fossa” Mean? The term supraclavicular fossa literally means “the hollow above the clavicle.” It comes from Latin: supra (above) + clavicula (clavicle) + fossa (ditch or depression). In […]