Anglais L1 Medecine

ASSISTANT CHARLIE NGIMBI Page |1
INTRODUCTION
English plays a great role in Medicine and any medical science. There
are two very obvious reasons for this phenomenon. Firstly, health
professionals cannot afford not to be able to communicate in English if
they wish to be integrated in the international academic community, and
secondly, the financial temptation of being employed in an English
speaking country is too big for Congolese doctors to resist, therefore
there are naturally expected to have a good command of English in
general and Medical English in special.
it is assumed that students in medicine who undertake training using the

handout, will already have gained proficiency in most of the basic skills
such as measuring blood pressure, consulting patients, performing a
vaginal examination, conducting a normal delivery and prevention of
infection because every year more than 500 000 women die of
complications of pregnancy and childbirth. At least 7 million women who
survive childbirth suffer serious health problems and a further 50 million
women suffer adverse health consequences after childbirth. The
overwhelming majority of these deaths and complications occur in
developing countries.
Laboratory services are an essential and fundamental part of all health

systems, Today’s world cannot afford unreliable laboratory results,
wasting precious time, precious samples, and too often, precious lives.
That’s First year students in medicine have to know that many
therapeutic decisions rely heavily on data from health laboratories and,
at the time of disease outbreaks or other public health events,
laboratories are at the very heart of the public health investigation and
response mechanisms.
Class objectives
After going through this lesson, students would be able to:
- Master recurrent English terms used in Medical Science

- Work as well as it is recommended by WHO
- Work in English speaking countries
- Communicate with English–speaking patients in the consulting
room;
- Interprete medical prescriptions;
- Correctly use direction of use for some drugs.
CHAPTER I: ILLNESSES/ SICKNESSES/ DISEASES
I.1.To be sick and to be ill
The difference between them is to be sick you are not obliged to go to

the hospital, but to be ill the person is seriously sick and he has to be
hospitalized.
Example:
a) Good morning sir, how are you?

b) I am not fine and you?
a) Fine, thank you.
In English, it is recommended to know what’s going on when someone

answers negatively and this is the standard way of asking questions.
 What’s the matter with you? : Qu’est-ce qui ne va pas chez vous ?
 What’s wrong with you?
Answer: I’m not fine
Question: what are you suffering from?

is
Note that: pains in English are expressed by ACHE. That’s to say; we
take one part of the body + ache just to express the place that you suffer.
ache /eik/ noun a pain which goes on for a time, but is not very severe
e.g. He complained of various aches and pains.

verb to have a pain in part of the body
e.g. His tooth ached so much he went to the dentist
I.2. SOME PARTS OF THE HUMAN BODY
Head: Tête
Arm: bras
Leg: jambe
Tooth: dent
Back: dos
Belly: ventre
Tummy: ventre
Stomach: estomac
Ear: Oreille
To have a headache: avoir mal à la tête

E.g. I have a headache
He has a toothache or tooth decay
Peter has a bellyache
She has a stomachache
He has an earache
Other illnesses that do not require the parts of the body
 Sore throat
 Sore eye
 Sore foot
 Fever or temperature
 Measles
 Tuberculosis
 Aids: acquired immune deficiency syndrome
 Hernia
 Yellow fever
 Typhoid
 Typhoid fever
 Rush skin
 Wound
 Diarrhea
 Flu
 Influenza
 Cough
 Goitre /gɔitə/
 Rheumatism
 Hepatitis A, B, C
 cholera /kɒlərə/
 cerebral haemorrhage/_’serəbrəl ‘hem(ə)ridz/ or Also called brain
haemorrhage
 cerebral vascular accident /__serəbrəl vaskjυlər aksd(ə)nt/
 palpitation /palpi ‘teiʃ(ə)n/ noun awareness that the heart is beating
rapidly or irregularly, possibly caused by stress or by a disease
 lung cancer /laŋ kansə/ noun cancer in the lung
Painkiller /_pein kilə/ noun a drug that reduces pain
Anaesthesia /anəs ‘θiziə/ noun 1. A state, deliberately produced in a
patient by a medical procedure, in which he or she can feel no pain,
either in a part or in the whole of the body
Anti-inflammatory /anti in’flamət(ə) ri/ adjective referring to a drug which
reduces inflammation.
I.3. The importance of a family planning
TELLING THE STORY: WHY DID MRS X DIE?
This is the story of one case of maternal death. For the sake of
anonymity, let us call our unfortunate woman, Mrs X. Mrs X died during
labour in a small district hospital. The physician in charge had no doubt
why Mrs X died. It was a straight forward clinical diagnosis - a case of
antepartum haemorrhage due to placenta praevia, which means that the
placenta, or what we call the “afterbirth”, was situated too low down in
the uterus.
A woman with this condition will inevitably develop bleeding in the latter
part of pregnancy or before delivery. The physician was satisfied with
the diagnosis, looked up the book of International Classification of
Diseases, entered the right code number for the condition and
closed the file on Mrs X.
But the question is not completely answered, and there are others who
are still looking for other answers. The obstetric profession has a small
committee which is making confidential inquiries into the causes of
maternal deaths according to standards that have been developed by the

International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics. The committee
met, asked for the complete hospital record of Mrs X and examined the
record in more detail. The file on Mrs X was re-opened.
On reading the file of Mrs X, the committee found out that there were two
striking points in her hospital record. The first point was that although she
was admitted to hospital as a case of severe bleeding and in a condition
of shock, she received only 500 cc or ½ litre of blood by transfusion. That
was all the blood the hospital had available to give her and that amount
was barely sufficient to compensate for her severe blood loss. The
second point was that Mrs X had to undergo caesarean section in the
hospital to stop the bleeding. That operation was carried out three hours
after her admission. Mrs X died during the operation.
The committee looked into the case which said that the death of Mrs X
was avoidable. The committee argued in its report that, if blood
transfusion had been more readily available, and if the service had been
better prepared to deal with emergencies, a life would have been saved.
It took Mrs X four hours to reach hospital from the time she started
bleeding severely, because transport was not readily available to take
her to the hospital.
It was also revealed that this was not the first time she suffered bleeding.
In fact she had two minor episodes of bleeding during the same month
and on both occasions the bleeding stopped spontaneously. This is a
very dangerous signal in late pregnancy. It always indicates that a
severe attack of bleeding is imminent, yet Mrs X was never warned
about this and no action was taken.
Mrs X was not a very healthy woman. Even before pregnancy, she
suffered from chronic iron deficiency anaemia caused by malnutrition
and parasitic infestations. That severe anaemia must have contributed to
the fact that she could not endure the additional severe blood loss. Her
reserves of blood were already at a very low level. Mrs X did not have
access to any sort of prenatal care during her pregnancy. Mrs X is 39
years old, five of her children are still living, three of them are males, and
Mrs X did not want another child.
In addition, because of her age and because of her parity, her pregnancy
carried a much higher risk than her previous pregnancies.
Mrs X never had access to any family planning information, education or

services, and therefore never had the opportunity to use any method of
family planning in her life.
If this unwanted pregnancy of Mrs X had not taken place, she would not
have died from the cause she died from. Mrs X was also a housewife,
and her husband a poor agricultural labourer. She was an illiterate
woman and she lived with her husband in a remote village.
Vocabularies
- placenta /plə’ sentə/ noun the tissue which grows inside the uterus
during pregnancy and links the baby to the mother
- placenta praevia /plə’sentə ‘priviə/ noun. A condition in which the

fertilised egg becomes implanted in the lower part of the uterus,
which means that the placenta lies across the cervix and may
become detached during childbirth and cause brain damage to the
baby
- antepartum haemorrhage /_antipɑtəm ‘heməridz_/ noun bleeding

from the vagina before labour. Abbr APH
- postpartum /pəυst_’pɑtəm/ adjective referring to the period after the

birth of a child
- postpartum haemorrhage /pəυst_pɑ:təm ‘hem(ə)ridz/ noun heavy

bleeding after childbirth. Abbr PPH
- stillborn /‘stilbɔ:n/ adjective referring to a baby born dead.
e.g. Her first child was stillborn.

ASSISTANT CHARLIE NGIMBI P a g e | 10
CHAPTER II: THE LABORATORY DIAGNOSTIC PROCESS
II.1. Definition of laboratory
A special room or place where scientists can do specialized work such

as research, the testing of chemical substances.
The laboratory diagnostic process to obtain a result can be divided into
three phases: the pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical phases.
Figure II-1: The laboratory diagnostic process
II.2. Pre-analytical phase

The pre-analytical phase is defined as the period from the physician’s
indication of the test up to the laboratory analysis of the biological
material. In other words, this phase involves an individual’s preparation
for collection of the biological material, the collection itself, storage of the
collected sample and its transport to the laboratory, and preparation of
the sample for the assay.
The importance of this phase is also supported by many publications

mentioning the fact that up to 46 – 68 % of erroneous results are caused
by failure to follow or respect the pre-analytical phase rules. That is why
the primary task of the laboratory is to provide clients with all necessary
instructions (on patient preparation, sample collection, biological material
storage and transport, pre-analytical sample treatment) so as to minimize
the risk of errors that could consequently cause harm to the patient. All
this information is summarized in the manuals of testing laboratories.
It is necessary to keep in mind that biological samples constitute a risk of

infection, and therefore personal protective equipment (rubber gloves,
protective coat) should be used for work with biological material (material
collection, lab work with the sample).
In addition, a face mask and safety goggles must be used for highly
infectious samples such as HIV or hepatitis C. If clothes or skin is
contaminated by the biological material, the affected area should be
washed and then disinfected. In the event of injury, the wound must be
treated and let it bleed for several minutes, wash with soap, disinfect.
II.3. Analytical phase

The pre-analytical phase is followed by the analytical phase, involving
the sample analysis itself. Each laboratory must have an established
quality control system to ensure the validity of the issued results. In this
phase, samples are examinated by laboratory technician by using

different laboratory equipments such as: microscopes, pipettes, scales,
centrifuges, burette, hot plates, incubators, coolers, stirrers, syringe,

dropper, evaporating dish, test tube, funnel, stand, graduated cylinder
and dropper etc.
Figure II-2: Laboratory

II.4. Post- analytical phase

The analytical phase ends with the post-analytical phase, defined as the
period from obtaining the lab result to its hand-over to the physician.
This phase helps the physician to write medical prescriptions according
to the results given by the laboratory technician.
II.5. BIOLOGIC SPECIMENS
Specimen /spesimin/ noun. A small quantity of something given for

testing. Blood is the most common biologic fluid collected for clinical
laboratory testing. It is usually drawn from a vein (in the arm) directly into
an evacuated tube.
Figure II-3: An example of heelstick blood for testing of newborns.
Other biologic fluids (matrices) often used for testing include urine,
saliva, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), amniotic fluid, synovial fluid, pleural
fluid, peritoneal fluid and pericardial fluid. These fluids often contain the
same biologic analytes of interest – such as glucose and protein, but
differ greatly from each other in physical and chemical properties.
 Cerebrospinal /serəbrəυ spain(ə)l /: adjective referring to the brain

and the spinal cord.
 cerebrospinal fluid /serəbrəυ_spain(ə)l/: noun fluid which surrounds
the brain and the spinal cord. Abbr CSF
 amniotic fluid /_amni_‘otik/ fluid which covers an unborn baby in the

uterus. Also called amniotic sac
 synovial fluid /sai_nəυviəl _fluid/ fluid that is found in joint cavities
to lubricate a joint.
 pleural fluid /plυərəl fluid/ fluid from the sac surrounding the lungs
 peritoneal fluid/_peritə ‘niəl/ fluid from the abdomen
 pericardial fluid /peri ’kɑdiəl/ fluid from the sac surrounding the
heart.
II.6. BLOOD
Blood is the most commonly used specimen for testing in the clinical
laboratory. Blood consists of two main parts: Plasma and Serum. The
fluid portion of blood is called is plasma, which contains the dissolved
ions and molecules) and a cellular portion (the red blood cells, white
blood cells and platelets). Most clinical chemistry analytes are found in
the plasma. Part of the preparation of blood for testing these analytes
involves removing the cells. This is done by centrifugation of the sample
to pack the blood cells in the bottom of the collection tube and allow
removal of the liquid portion for testing.
Figure II-4: Preparation of serum and plasma.
If a blood sample is collected in a tube containing an additive that

prevents the blood from clotting (called an anticoagulant), the fluid
portion of the blood is called plasma. If the blood is collected in a tube

with no anticoagulant, the blood will form a clot.
Serum The resultant liquid above the cells and clot. Serum contains all
the components of plasma except the clotting proteins, which are
consumed in the cascade of reactions that form the blood clot.
Some clinical chemistry tests are best performed using plasma, others
are best performed using serum, and still others can be performed using
either plasma or serum.
Tubes used to collect blood have color-coded caps that signal what, if
any, additives are present in the tube. Additives may be anticoagulants
to allow preparation of plasma or may be substances included to protect
analytes from chemical or metabolic breakdown.
Vocabularies
Clot /klɒt/ noun a soft mass of coagulated blood in a vein or an artery

Clotting /_klɒtiŋ/ noun the action of coagulating
Coagulate /kəυ_’agjυleit/ verb to change from liquid to semi-solid
Coagulation /kəυ agjυ’ leiʃ(ə)n/ noun the action of clotting
Coagulation time /kəυ agju ’leiʃ(ə)n taim/ noun same as clotting time
Plasma /plazmə/ noun: A yellow watery liquid which makes up the main
part of blood
Serum /’siərəm/ noun: A fluid which separates from clotted blood and is
similar to plasma except that it has no clotting agents.
III.7. URINE
Urine is another fluid commonly used for testing in clinical chemistry

laboratories. It is especially suitable for tests that evaluate kidney
functions, tests that look at waste products that are excreted by the
kidneys, and for metabolites that are cleared quickly from the
bloodstream and accumulate in the urine, such as drugs of abuse.
II.8. DIFFERENT TYPE OF URINE SAMPLE
TYPE OF URINE SAMPLE HOW IT IS USED

First morning sample Provides a concentrated sample of urine that contains the
overnight accumulation of metabolites. Useful for detection of
proteins or unusual analytes.
Random Convenient sample that can be collected at any time. Most often
used for routine screening tests.
Timed Typically 2 to 6 hours of urine output is collected to give a
representative sample; duration of collection depends on the
analytes.
24-hour Entire urine output for a 24-hour period is collected. Like a timed
urine, but used for metabolites whose excretion rates may vary
with time of day and full 24-hour collection is needed to be
representative.
Often, when urine samples will not be tested immediately upon

collection, the urine must be treated with a preservative. A preservative
is a substance that prevents the breakdown of analytes of interest. Most
preservatives are added to reduce bacterial metabolism or to prevent
chemical decomposition of the analyte(s) of interest. This is typically
done by adjusting the pH to an acidic or basic range. Some of the
common urine preservatives include potassium phosphate, benzoic acid,
sodium bicarbonate, acetic acid, hydrochloric acid and boric acid.
Fluids other than blood and urine, like amniotic fluid, synovial fluid,
peritoneal fluid, pleural fluid and pericardial fluid, are used in limited
clinical settings and are tested for only a few special analytes. Amniotic
fluid is typically used for tests of fetal health. Spinal fluid is used primarily
for assessment of patients with symptoms of diseases such as
meningitis or multiple sclerosis or patients who may have suffered a
cerebrovascular accident.
Chemical testing of fluids such as peritoneal fluid, pericardial fluid or

pleural fluid is typically done to assess the origin of the fluid to determine
whether it has leaked from blood vessels because of pressure
differences (called a transudate, which is relatively low in protein) or
because of inflammation or injury (called an exudate, which is relatively
high in protein).
Saliva is rarely used in clinical laboratory testing, but is recognized as a

specimen whose composition reflects the blood plasma levels of many
low molecular weight substances such as drugs or alcohol.
III.9. Before the Biological Material Collection
Factors affecting the pre-analytical phase before the biological material

collection can be further divided into controllable and uncontrollable
factors. Controllable factors include, for example, adherence to some
daily regimen, dietary habits, etc. Uncontrollable factors are variables
such as age, gender, race, etc.
II.9.1. Controllable Factors before the Biological Material Collection
Food is an important controllable factor before the biological material

collection. Blood should ALWAYS be collected after a fasting period.
Food composition may also affect the pH of urine. For example,
vegetable and fruit consumption makes urine more alkaline, while meat,
fat and protein-rich food makes it more acidic. Some metabolite levels
may also be influenced by the consumption of certain beverages

(caffeine increases the glucose level in blood). Alcohol also significantly
affects biochemical assays.
II.9.2. Uncontrollable Factors before the Biological Material Collection
Uncontrollable factors before biological material collection include age,

gender, race and biological rhythms. A further uncontrollable factor which
might be included here is pregnancy. However, since this example of
influence on the pre-analytical phase is too specific, it will not be

described in this communication. Except for biological rhythms and
pregnancy, these effects do not require any special attention as they are
beyond our control and are considered through reference limits for the
relevant analyte.
Age is a very important uncontrollable factor, since most monitored

analytes are age related. An older person will have higher cholesterol
levels than a younger person. Children and adolescents exhibit higher
total alkaline phosphatase activity than adults due to a higher production
of the bone isoform of this enzyme as the body grows. The reason is that
the assay includes total alkaline phosphatase activity, including the bone
isoform.
II.9.3. Collection Timing

Collection timing plays a very important part in the strategy to obtain
valid results. Most often, collections take place in the morning when we
can be sure that the patient has fasted.
II.9.4. Patient Position during the Collection

Patient position during the collection is also important. It must be kept in
mind that the difference in protein concentration when comparing a
standing vs. sitting position for 15 minutes is 5 – 8 %, and about 10 – 20

% for a standing vs. recumbent position. In the standing position, water
transfers from the intravasal to the interstitial space, which subsequently
leads to a rise in high-molecular substances, primarily proteins,
lipoproteins and protein-bound substances such as calcium cation and
hormones (cortisol, thyroxin), or some drugs. In general, biological
material should always be collected in the same position, preferably the
standard sitting position, which is not always possible in hospitalized
patients, though.
- recumbent /ri’ kambənt/ adjective lying down.

- intravascular /_intrə_’‘vaskjυlə/ adjective inside the blood vessels.
- intravenous feeding /_intrəvinəs fi:diŋ/ noun the procedure of giving someone
liquid food by means of a tube inserted into a vein.
- intravenous injection /_intrəvinəs indz_ekʃən/ noun an injection of liquid into a
vein, e.g. for the fast release of a drug.
- intrauterine contraceptive device /_intrəju_tərain kɒntrə’_septiv divais/, or
intrauterine device noun a plastic coil placed inside the uterus to prevent
pregnancy. Abbr IUCD, IUD.
- interstitial /_intə_’stiʃ(ə)l/ adjective referring to tissue located in the spaces
between parts of something, especially between the active tissues in an organ.
- haemolysis /hi ‘mɒləsis/ noun. The destruction of red blood cells.
II.9.5. Ten pieces of advice for obtaining correct results

There are ten pieces of advice in order to obtain correct results which
are:
• Instruct the patient (why they are being tested)

• Time the collection correctly
• Fill in the order slip correctly
• Choose the right collection procedure
• Choose the right test tube

• Take the recommended amount of material
• Do not spill any biological material
• Label the test tubes correctly
• Ensure appropriate storage for biological material before transport.
• Ensure appropriate transport to the lab
CHAPTER III: MEDICAL EQUIPMENTS AND EXPRESSIONS DURING
CONSULTATION
III. Medical equipments
1. wheelchair = a chair with wheels in which someone can sit and move around
2. scalpel= a small sharp-pointed knife used in surgery
3. probe= an instrument used to explore inside a cavity or wound

4. Forceps= a surgical instrument with handles like a pair of scissors, made in different
sizes and with differently shaped ends, used for holding and pulling
5. Curette= a surgical instrument like a long thin spoon, used for scraping the inside of
an organ
6. pipette = a thin glass tube used for taking and measuring samples of liquid
7. Drain= a tube used to remove liquid from the body
8. Syringe=a medical instrument made of a tube with a plunger which either slides
down inside the tube, forcing the contents out through a needle as in an injection, or
slides up the tube, allowing a liquid to be sucked into it
9. catheter= a tube passed into the body along one of the passages in the body
10. Sling= a triangular bandage attached around the neck, used to support an injured
arm and prevent it from moving
11. Stretcher= a folding bed, with handles, on which an injured person can be carried by
two people
12. .splint=a stiff support attached to a limb to prevent a broken bone from moving
13. Stethoscope= two earpieces connected to a tube and a metal disc, used to listen to
sounds made inside the body
14. Thermometer= an instrument for measuring temperature
III. Parts of the human body
III.1. Le corps: body
le cou : neck
la poitrine : chest
le ventre : abdomen
la hanche : hip
les organes : génitaux genitals
le tibia: shin
le mamelon : nipple
la tête : head
le sein : breast
la taille: waist
le nombril : navel
l’avant-bras : forearm
la cuisse : thigh
le genou : knee
le pied : foot
l’épaule : shoulder
le bras : arm
le coude : elbow
le poignet : wrist
la main : hand
la cheville : ankle
la nuque : nape of neck
le dos : back
l’aisselle : armpit
le creux des reins : small of back
la fesse : buttock
le mollet : calf
le talon : heel
III.2. Le visage: face
les cheveux : hair

la peau : skin
le sourcil : eyebrow
le cil : eyelash
l’oreille :ear
le nez : nose
le grain de beauté : mole
la lèvre : lip
le menton : chin
le front : forehead
la tempe :temple
l’œil : eye
la joue : cheek
la bouche : mouth
la mâchoire : jaw
III.3. La main: hand

III.4. Le pied: foot
III.5. La tête : Head
III.6. Les systèmes du corps: body systems
There are six body systems which are:
 Muscular system
 Nervous system
 Digestive system
 Respiratory system
 Circulatory system
 Reproductive system: male and female reproductive system
III.7. Here are some medical expressions
Table 1. Sample History Taking/ Collecte d’information à l’histoire médicale
Do you have pain/chest pain? Avez-vous de la douleur/la douleur au poitrine?

Where does it hurt? Here? Ou avez-vous mal? Ici?
Do you have neck pain? Avez-vous mal au cou?
Are you short of breath? Êtes-vous essoufflé?
Does it hurt to take a deep breath? Avez-vous mal lorsque vous respirer profondément?
Are you dizzy? Êtes-vous étourdi?
Did you lose consciousness? Avez-vous perdu connaissance?
Do you have any allergies? Avez-vous des allergies?
Do you take any medications? Prenez-vous des médicaments?
Do you have any health problems? Avez-vous des problèmes de santé ?
Have you had any operations? Avez-vous déjà été opéré? ou Avez vous déjà subi une
opération?
When did you last have anything Quand avez-vous mangé/bu pour la dernière fois?
to eat/drink?
When did this happen? Quand est-ce arrivé?
When did your symptoms start? Quand vos symptômes ont-ils débuté ?
How fast were you going? À quelle vitesse alliez-vous?
Were you wearing a seatbelt? Portiez-vous une ceinture de sécurité?
Were airbags deployed? Est-ce que les coussins gonflables
ont été déployés?
Have you been immunized? Avez-vous déjà été vacciné ?

Are you/could you be pregnant? Êtes-vous ou pourriez-vous être enceinte?
When was your last Quand avez-vous eu vos dernières règles/menstruations?

menstrual period?
Table 2. Other Useful Phrases/Autres phrases utiles
Useful Phrases Phrases utiles

We need to do blood tests. Nous devons faire des tests sanguins.
I am waiting to hear from other specialties. J’attends l’avis des autres spécialistes.
He/she needs surgery. Il/elle a besoin d’une opération chirurgicale.
He/she is on life support. Il/elle est maintenu en vie artificiellement.

His/her condition is critical. Il/elle est gravement malade.
Please accept my sincere sympathies. Veuillez recevoir mes condoléances
les plus sincères
Table 4. Resuscitation/Réanimation
Resuscitation Réanimation
Airway Les voies aériennes/respiratoires
Breathing La respiration
Circulation Circulation sanguine
Bag-mask ventilation Embu
Cardiac arrest Arrêt cardiaque
CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) RCR (réanimation cardiorespiratoire)
Chest compressions Massage cardiaque
Defibrillation Défibrillation
Cardiac pacing La stimulation cardiaque
Therapeutic hypothermia L’hypothermie thérapeutique
Ventricular tachycardia Tachycardie ventriculaire
Ventricular fibrillation Fibrillation ventriculaire
Pulseless electrical activity Dissociation électromécanique
Intubation Intubation
Table 5. The Medical Body/Le corps du point de vu médical
The Medical Body Le corps du point de vu médical

Brain Le cerveau
Skull Le crâne
Head La tête
Spine La colonne vertébrale
Spinal cord La moelle épinière
Lungs Les poumons
Thorax Le thorax
Ribs Les côtes
Breasts Les seins
Heart Le coeur
Ventricles Les ventricules
Atria Oreillette
Liver Le foie
Stomach L’estomac
Intestines L’intestin
Kidneys Les reins
Bladder La vessie
Pelvis Le bassin
Penis Le pénis
Vagina Le vagin
Testicles Les testicules
Ovaries Les ovaires
Uterus L’utérus
Joints Les articulations
Vein La veine
Arteries Les artères
Capillaries Les capillaires
Nerve Le nerf
Lymph node Le ganglion lymphatique
Table 6. The Senses/ Les sens
Senses Les Sens

Sight/to see La vision/voir
Smell/to smell L’odorat/sentir
Taste/to taste Le goût/goûter
Hearing/to hear L’ouïe/entendre
Touch/to feel Le toucher/sentir
Table 7. Ordering Laboratory Tests and Medications/

Examens et ordonnances
Ordering Laboratory Tests

and Medications Examens et ordonnances
Over-the-counter medications Les médicaments en vente libre
Prescription L’ordonnance
Pill/tablet Pilule/comprimé
Ointment Onguent
Once/twice/three times/tour times daily Une/deux/trois/quatre fois par jour
Blood draw La prise de sang
Red/white blood cells Les globules rouges/blancs
Platelets Les plaquettes
Electrolytes Électrolytes
Creatinine Créatinine
Troponin Troponine
Blood glucose Glycémie
Pregnancy test/BHCG Test de grossesse/BHCG
Urinalysis L’analyse d’urine
Arterial/venous/capillary blood gas Le gaz sanguin artériel/
veineux/capillaire
Swab for culture and sensitivity Prélèvement pour les cultures

Blood culture L’hémoculture
Table 8. Medical Equipment and Technology/Équipement médical et technologie
Medical Equipment and Technology Équipement médical et technologie

Monitor Moniteur
Blood pressure cuff Brassard de tension artérielle
Thermometer Thermomètre
Arterial line Canule artérielle
Central line Voie centrale
IV Cathéter intraveineux ou un soluté
Dressing Pansement
Sutures Points de suture
Cast Plâtre
Crutches Béquilles
Wheelchair Chaise roulante
Radiograph Radiographie
CT scan TDM (tomodensitométrie), le scanner
Sonography Échographie
Ventilator Le ventilateur
Dialysis La dialyse/le rein artificiel
Table 9. Medical Specialties/ Spécialités médicales
Medical Specialties Spécialités médicales

Anesthesia Anesthésie
Cardiology/cardiac surgery Cardiologie/chirurgie cardiaque
Dermatology Dermatologie
Emergency medicine Médecine d’urgence
Gastroenterology Gastroentérologie
General surgery Chirurgie générale
Geriatrics Gériatrie
Hematology Hématologie
Intensive care Soins intensifs
Nephrology/urology Néphrologie/urologie
Neurology/neurosurgery Neurologie/neurochirurgie
Obstetrics/gynecology Obstétrique/gynécologie
Oncology Oncologie
Pediatrics Pédiatrie
Pulmonary Pneumologie
Thoracic surgery Chirurgie thoracique
CHAPTER IV: EXERCISES
IV.1. Word formation: nouns
A fast way to expand your vocabulary is to make sure you know the different forms of the
words you learn.
Exercise 1. The words in this list are all verbs. What are the noun forms? Write them in the
second column. The first one has been done for you as an example.
1. diagnose diagnosis
9. infect ______________
2. examine ______________
10. carry ______________
3. prescribe ______________
11. replace ______________
4. suffer ______________
12.degenerate_____________
5. operate ______________
13. refer ______________
6. cure ______________
14. paralyse ______________
7. recover ______________
8. analyse ______________ 15. obstruct ______________
Exercise 2. First, check your answers to Exercise 1 in the key. Then rewrite the sentences
below, changing the verbs (which are in bold) to nouns. Do not change the meaning of the
sentences, but be prepared to make grammatical changes if necessary. The first one has been
done for you as an example.
1. I diagnosed that the patient had a heart

condition.
My diagnosis was that the patient had a heart

condition.
2. I examined the patient fully.
I made a full………………………………………………………………
3. I prescribed a course of antibiotics.
I wrote a………………………………………………………………..
4. He suffered very little.
He experienced very little……………………………………………..
5. We operated immediately.
The……………………………………………………………………………
6. This disease cannot be cured.

There is no……………………………………………………………………………
7. He has recovered fully.

He has made a full
8. The lab analysed the blood sample.
The lab made an……………………………………………………………………………
9. We found that the tissue was infected.

We found an……………………………………………………………………………
10. Ten per cent of the population are thought to carry the bacteria.
Ten per cent of the population are thought to be

……………………………………………………………………………
11. We replaced the patient's hip.

The patient was given a hip……………………………………………………………………………
12. His condition has degenerated.

There has been a……………………………………………………………………………
13. The patient was referred to a specialist.

The patient was given a……………………………………………………………………………
14. His arm was paralysed after the stroke.

He suffered……………………………………………………………………………
15. The artery was obstructed by a blood clot.

The blood clot was forming an……………………………………………………………………………
IV.2. Word association 2: partnerships
Exercise 1.
Link each verb on the left with a noun on the right to make 10 'partnerships'. The first
one has been done for you as an example.
Verbs Nouns
administer an improvement
analyse a baby
arrange antibiotics
burp the treatment
catch some infections
detect an appointment
discontinue a sample
ease the pain
resist a drug
prescribe a cold
Exercise 2.
Complete these sentences using the partnerships from Exercise 1. You may have to make
some changes to fit the grammar of the sentences. The first one has been done for you as an
example.
1. The doctor will administer a drug to the patient.

2. She was ____________________ .
3. As soon as the patient reported severe side-effects, the doctor ___________________
.
4. I've ____________________ from one of my colleagues at work.
5. The laboratory ____________________ of the food and found traces of bacteria.
6. A healthy body can ____________________ .
7. I would like to ____________________ with the dental hygienist for 10.00am
tomorrow.
8. She had an injection to ____________________ in her leg.
9. The health visitor advised the new parents to ____________________ after feeding.
10. The nurses _____________________ in the patient's condition.
IV.3. Opposites 1: prefixes
Exercise 1.
English often uses prefixes to create opposites. There are several different prefixes that are
used. Choose the right prefix for each of the adjectives below and write them into the
table. The first one has been done for you:
1. active
2. adequate
3. coherent
4. compatible
5. complete
6. conscious
7. controllable
8. dependent
9. digested
10. direct
11. fertile
12. fit
13. healthy
14. hygienic
15. legal
16. movable
17. operable
18. palpable
19. pure
20. qualified
21. Reducible
22. regular
23. sanitary
24. soluble
25. stable
26. well
il- im- in- ir- un-
1. 1. 1. 1. 1.
2. 2. 2. 2.
3. 3. 3.
4. 4.
5. 5.
6. 6.
7. 7.
8. 8.
9. 9.
10.
Exercise 2.
Use ten of the adjectives in the table to complete these sentences. The first one has been
done for you as an example.
1. He was found unconscious in the street.
2. He felt ________________ and had to go home.
3. The serum makes the poison ________________.
4. The children have a very _______________ diet.
5. The nurse noted that the patient had developed an ________________ pulse.
6. She used to play a lot of tennis, but she became ________________ in the winter.
7. The surgeon decided that the cancer was ________________.
8. Cholera spread rapidly because of the ________________ conditions in the town.
9. The patient was showing signs of an ________________ mental condition.
10. She has an ________________ desire to drink alcohol.
Extension. Work with a partner and test each other. One partner closes the book, while
the other asks questions such as "What's the opposite of conscious?".
IV.4. Word formation: verbs

Exercise 1.
The words listed in the table below are nouns. What are the verb forms of these nouns?
The first question has been done for you as an example.
1. abuse abuse 16. perspiration

2. admission 17. preparation
3. bandage 18. provision
4. blood 19. reabsorption
5. breath 20. regeneration
6. coagulation 21. registration
7. consultation 22. regurgitation
8. convalescence 23. rehabilitation
9. fertilisation 24. reproduction
10. identification 25. resuscitation
11. immunisation 26. sedation
12. implant 27. stammer
13. maceration 28. stitch
14. management 29. suppression
15. occurrence 30. sweat
IV.5. Word association 3: mind maps
A mind map is a way of organizing vocabulary to show the connections between words.
This mind map is based on the word 'surgery'.
Find words and expressions in the mind map that fit the following definitions.
1. A special room in a hospital, where surgical operations are carried out ………………..
2. A nurse who is specially trained to assist a surgeon during an operation ………………..
3. The part of a hospital which deals with people who need urgent treatment because they
have had accidents or are in sudden serious pain ………………..
4. Surgical operations involving important organs in the body ………………..
5. A doctor who specialises in surgery ………………..
6. An anaesthetic which removes the feeling in a single part of the body only ………………..
7. A senior specialised doctor in a hospital ………………..
8. A surgical operation to remedy a condition of the heart ………………..
9. To clean the hands and arms thoroughly before performing surgery ………………..
10. The treatment of diseases or disorders by procedures which require an operation to cut
into, to remove or to manipulate tissue, organs or parts ………………..
IV.6. Body parts – categories
In this table there are 38 words for parts of the body and six categories. Decide which
category or categories each part belongs to. The first one has been done for you as an
example.
arm hand leg foot torso head
abdomen x
Achilles
tendon
ankle
buttock
calf
chest
chin
ear
elbow
eye
eyebrow
eyelash
eyelid
finger
forearm
forehead
gum
hip
knee
knuckle
lip
nail
navel
neck
nipple
nose
palm
rib
scalp
shoulder
sole
temple
thigh
thumb
toe
tongue
tooth
wrist
- torso /_‘tɔ:səυ/ noun the main part of the body, not including the arms, legs and
head. Also called trunk
- sole /səυl/ noun the part under the foot
e.g. The soles of the feet are very sensitive.
- psychiatrist /sai_‘kaiətrist/ noun a doctor who specialises in the diagnosis and

treatment of mental and behavioural disorders
- mammilla /mə_‘milə/, mamilla noun the protruding part in the centre of the
breast, containing the milk ducts through which the milk flows. Also called nipple
- scalp /skalp/ noun the thick skin and muscle, with the hair, which covers the skull
- palm /pɑ_m/ noun the inner surface of the hand, extending from the bases of the
fingers to the wrist
- navel /_‘neiv(ə)l/ noun the scar with a depression in the middle of the abdomen
where the umbilical cord was detached after birth. Also called umbilicus
- hip /hip/ noun a ball and socket joint where the thigh bone or femur joins the
acetabulum of the hip bone
- gum /&"m/ noun the soft tissue covering the part of the jaw which surrounds the
teeth
- elbow /_‘elbəυ/ noun a hinged joint where the upper arm bone joins the forearm
bones
- chin /tʃin/ noun the bottom part of the face, beneath the mouth
- calf /kɑlf/ noun a muscular fleshy part at the back of the lower leg, formed by the
gastrocnemius muscles
- Achilles tendon / ə,kili:z tendən/ noun a tendon at the back of the ankle which
connects the calf muscles to the heel
IV.7. Abbreviations
Test your medical abbreviations. What do the following stand for? Check the ones you don't
know in the dictionary. The first one has been done for you as an example.
1. A & E …Accident & Emergency……………………………………………………

2. AIDS ……………………………………….................…………………………………
3. BMR…………………………………………………………………….................…………
4. CAT …………………………………………………………………….................………
5. CHD ………………………………………………………………………….................
6. D & V ……………………………………………………………………………….................
7. DOA ……………………………………………………………………………….................
8. GP ………………………………………………………………………………………....
9. HAV ……………………………………………………………………………….................
10. HIV ……………………………………………………………………………….................
11. MND ………………………………………………………………………………....
12. OTC ………………………………………………………………………….................
13. PM ……………………………………………………………………………………....
14. PMA ………………………………………………………………………….................
15. PMT ……………………………………………………………………………….................
16. RQ ……………………………………………………………………………………....
17. RSI ………………………………………………………………………………………....
18. SAD ……………………………………………………………………………….................
19. SIDS ……………………………………………………………………………….................
20. STI.………..………………………………………………………………….................
21. TB ………………………………………………………………………………………....
22. TBI ………………………………………………………………………………………....
23. UV ………………………………………………………………………………………....
24. VDH ……………………………………………………………………………….................
25. WHO …………………………………………………………………………….................
Extension. Work with a partner and test each other. One partner closes the book, while
the other asks questions such as "What does A & E stand for?".
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Authentic Consulting – Room Activities for Doctors, Dentists,
Students and Nurses
- Check your English vocabulary for Medicine Third Edition
- Dictionary of Medical Terms Fourth Edition

- French English Bilingual
- James H. Nichols: Clinical Chemistry
- Katherine Smith: Medical French and Medical English
- Laboratory Equipment and Functions

- Medical English: Textbooks and Medical Dramas Borbála Nagy
- Vladimir Bartoš: Clinical Biochemistry

- WHO Laboratory Assessment Tool April 2012

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ASSISTANT CHARLIE NGIMBI Page |1

it is assumed that students in medicine who undertake training using the

Laboratory services are an essential and fundamental part of all health

After going through this lesson, students would be able to:

- Master recurrent English terms used in Medical Science

CHAPTER I: ILLNESSES/ SICKNESSES/ DISEASES

I.1.To be sick and to be ill

The difference between them is to be sick you are not obliged to go to

a) Good morning sir, how are you?

In English, it is recommended to know what’s going on when someone

Answer: I’m not fine

Question: what are you suffering from?

e.g. He complained of various aches and pains.

I.2. SOME PARTS OF THE HUMAN BODY

To have a headache: avoir mal à la tête

I.3. The importance of a family planning

TELLING THE STORY: WHY DID MRS X DIE?

maternal deaths according to standards that have been developed by the

Mrs X never had access to any family planning information, education or

- placenta praevia /plə’sentə ‘priviə/ noun. A condition in which the

- antepartum haemorrhage /_antipɑtəm ‘heməridz_/ noun bleeding

- postpartum /pəυst_’pɑtəm/ adjective referring to the period after the

- postpartum haemorrhage /pəυst_pɑ:təm ‘hem(ə)ridz/ noun heavy

e.g. Her first child was stillborn.

CHAPTER II: THE LABORATORY DIAGNOSTIC PROCESS

II.1. Definition of laboratory

A special room or place where scientists can do specialized work such

Figure II-1: The laboratory diagnostic process

II.2. Pre-analytical phase

The importance of this phase is also supported by many publications

It is necessary to keep in mind that biological samples constitute a risk of

II.3. Analytical phase

phase, samples are examinated by laboratory technician by using

centrifuges, burette, hot plates, incubators, coolers, stirrers, syringe,

and dropper etc.

Figure II-2: Laboratory

II.4. Post- analytical phase

II.5. BIOLOGIC SPECIMENS

Specimen /spesimin/ noun. A small quantity of something given for

Figure II-3: An example of heelstick blood for testing of newborns.

 Cerebrospinal /serəbrəυ spain(ə)l /: adjective referring to the brain

 amniotic fluid /_amni_‘otik/ fluid which covers an unborn baby in the

Figure II-4: Preparation of serum and plasma.

If a blood sample is collected in a tube containing an additive that

portion of the blood is called plasma. If the blood is collected in a tube

Clot /klɒt/ noun a soft mass of coagulated blood in a vein or an artery

Urine is another fluid commonly used for testing in clinical chemistry

II.8. DIFFERENT TYPE OF URINE SAMPLE

TYPE OF URINE SAMPLE HOW IT IS USED

Often, when urine samples will not be tested immediately upon

Chemical testing of fluids such as peritoneal fluid, pericardial fluid or

Saliva is rarely used in clinical laboratory testing, but is recognized as a

III.9. Before the Biological Material Collection

Factors affecting the pre-analytical phase before the biological material

II.9.1. Controllable Factors before the Biological Material Collection

Food is an important controllable factor before the biological material

Food composition may also affect the pH of urine. For example,

may also be influenced by the consumption of certain beverages

(caffeine increases the glucose level in blood). Alcohol also significantly

affects biochemical assays.

II.9.2. Uncontrollable Factors before the Biological Material Collection

Uncontrollable factors before biological material collection include age,

might be included here is pregnancy. However, since this example of