Unit 2: Vocabulary

Noun (thing)
USA
UK
Bandage
USA
UK
a long piece of cloth which is wrapped around an injured body part
USA
UK
"I need to wrap the bandage around my ankle, as I suspect I have sprained it."
Noun (thing)
USA
UK
Brace
USA
UK
an object to support a body part and hold it in the correct position after injury
USA
UK
"If the patient has suffered a severe head injury and there is a risk for a spinal cord injury, he or she will have to wear a neck brace."
Noun (thing)
USA
UK
Cast
USA
UK
a tough cover which protects an injured body part or a broken limb
USA
UK
"A broken bone will be treated with the cast unless it is very small."
Noun (thing)
USA
UK
Catheter
USA
UK
a thin tube inserted into a patient’s body in order to remove a liquid, such as urine
USA
UK
"As you will be immobilized after the surgery so unable to go to the toilet, you will have a catheter inserted."
Noun (thing)
USA
UK
Crutches
USA
UK
sticks which fit under your arms and are used to walk when your leg or foot is injured or broken
USA
UK
"She’s been walking on crutches for 4 weeks now and is really looking forward to the moment when her leg has fully recovered."
Proper noun (thing)
USA
UK
Defibrillator
USA
UK
a device to correct abnormal heart rate by means of electric shocks
USA
UK
"A defibrillator is commonly used in case of patients with irregular heart beats."
Noun (thing)
USA
UK
Diagnostic equipment
USA
UK
tools and devices used by doctors to examine a patient and form an opinion of what is wrong
USA
UK
"A stethoscope and thermometer are examples of common diagnostic equipment."
Noun (thing)
USA
UK
Forceps
USA
UK
an instrument with two long narrow parts for holding things during medical operations
USA
UK
"Use forceps to close the blood vessel."
Noun (thing)
USA
UK
Incubator
USA
UK
a piece of hospital equipment in which ill or premature babies lie to be kept warm and given treatment
USA
UK
"As my son was born a month before he was due, he had to be placed in an incubator."
Noun (thing)
USA
UK
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
USA
UK
a medical imaging technique used to produce images of internal organs
USA
UK
"To produce images of the body, MRI scanners use magnetic fields or radio waves."
Noun (thing)
USA
UK
Scalpel
USA
UK
a small sharp knife used by doctors during operations to cut skin & tissue
USA
UK
"Make sure the scalpel is sterile before you begin performing a surgery."
Noun (thing)
USA
UK
Sling
USA
UK
a piece of cloth to support your arm in case it’s injured
USA
UK
"As I have injured my wrist and have to wear a sling, I’m going to take a few days off work."
Noun (thing)
USA
UK
Splint
USA
UK
a metal, plastic or wooden element placed next to a broken bone to immobilize it while it’s healing
USA
UK
"Before the doctor put my arm in a cast, he placed a metal splint next to it, so now my arm is so heavy!"
Noun (thing)
USA
UK
Stethoscope
USA
UK
a tool which is used for listening to someone's breathing or heart
USA
UK
"When you complain to a GP about an acute cough, he or she uses a stethoscope to listen to your chest."
Noun (thing)
USA
UK
Stretcher
USA
UK
a type of portable bed used to carry an injured or ill person
USA
UK
"Stretchers are included as standard equipment for ambulances in case paramedics need to carry injured patients."
Noun (thing)
USA
UK
Syringe
USA
UK
a tool which is used to inject fluid into the body or withdraw fluid from it
USA
UK
"The majority of doctors' surgeries use disposable syringes these days."
Noun (thing)
USA
UK
Thermometer
USA
UK
a tool to measure temperature of the body
USA
UK
"Due to the toxicity of mercury, mercury thermometers were banned in the EU."
Noun (thing)
USA
UK
Tongue depressor
USA
UK
a tool used during examinations of the throat which helps keep the view open
USA
UK
"Now please open your mouth and I will use a tongue depressor to check your throat."
Noun (thing)
USA
UK
Wheelchair
USA
UK
a rolling transportation device often used by someone who cannot walk
USA
UK
"She's been in a wheelchair since she had her leg amputated."
Noun (thing)
USA
UK
X-ray
USA
UK
a type of radiation used to produce images that help to diagnose diseases
USA
UK
"He had an X-ray taken and it revealed he had broken a rib"
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