Dictionary of Medical Terms

Gain a better understanding of medical terminology by searching our dictionary of more than 1,300 terms.

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All terms that start with the letter H

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halitosis

Bad breath.
hallucination

The sensory perception of sights, sounds or objects that don’t really exist.
hammer

The malleus, a hammer-shaped bone in the middle ear.
hamstring

The tendon located in the back of the knee and lower thigh.
hand-foot-and-mouth disease

A viral infection characterized by a blister-like rash of the hands, feet and mouth.
hangnail

A loose piece of skin at one side of a fingernail.
Hansen's disease

Leprosy.
harelip

Cleft lip or palate.
Hashimoto's thyroiditis

A degenerative autoimmune disease of the thyroid gland that ultimately results in a marked reduction in the amount of thyroid…
hay fever

Allergic sensitivity to certain mold spores and pollens. Allergic reaction includes sneezing, itchy eyes, sore throat and runny nose.
heart

The hollow, muscular organ responsible for pumping blood through the circulatory system.
heart block

A condition in which electrical impulses aren’t properly transmitted from the heart’s upper to the lower chambers.
heart failure

Inability of the heart to adequately pump blood.
heartburn

Indigestion. A burning sensation in the chest caused by a reflux of acid into the esophagus or too much acid…
heat exhaustion

Headache, profuse sweating, weakness, muscle cramps, nausea and vomiting caused by excessive exposure to heat.
heat stroke

A serious failure of the body’s heat-regulating mechanism resulting from excessive exposure to intense heat. Also called sunstroke.
hemangioma

A tumor or swelling that’s composed of blood vessels.
hematemesis

The vomiting of blood.
hematology

The branch of medicine that pertains to blood and the organs involved in forming blood.
hematoma

A tumor-like mass of coagulated blood in the soft tissues. A contusion or bruise.
hematuria

The presence of blood in the urine.

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