Tuesday, July 15, 2025
What’s What ?
What’s what?
In medical terminology, there are subjects that need some explanation. For instance, anatomy means structure of the body; physiology is about functioning of the body. Pharmacology deals with drugs and medicines used to treat or alleviate disease or at least relief of pain whereas pathology is physiology gone wrong. Medicine is applied pharmacology and surgery is applied anatomy to some extent.. Medical jurisprudence deals with unlawful activity perpetrated bye the individual body to self or unto others whereas preventive and social medicine are relevant to the society and community at large. The behavioural problems are dealt by psychiatry. Ophthalmology deals with problems of vision and the eyes whereas ear nose and throat are a concern of experts in that field . Obstetrics deals with pregnancy and childbirth whereas gynaecology deals with diseases of women in particular. Paediatrics deals with children and geriatrics for the old and elderly. Nephrologists are experts in kidney diseases whereas hepatologist are experts in liver ailments. Oncologists are specialists in malignancy or cancer whereas those expert in blood and bone marrow ailments are hematologists ! Radiologists excell in X-rays whereas sonologists are experts in sonograpic study of entire body. Neurologists are experts in nerve and spinal cord problems as well as brain specialist !
Newer and newer expertise is coming up every now and then and it becomes a true challenge for us old generation medics !
Medical statistics has a great bearing for research and documentation.
It is indeed a tricky proposition when a medical student enters premises of a medical school, college or hospital. Those words are always baffling for the beginners but as years pass on the students find out shortcuts to these words as well. For example, gynaecology is Gynec alone and PSM For preventative and social medicine etc.
All this may sound weird and bizarre for the unwitting but means a lot for a medical student undoubtedly.
That reminds me of another quote, “HE” knows Who is Who, how Who became Who and what Who will become When !
Baffled ?
Dr. P. S. Rahalkar
15 July 2025.
London
