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 N

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narcissistic

Self-centered, being “in love” with oneself.
narcolepsy

Frequent and uncontrolled desire for sleep.
nausea

A feeling of sickness in the stomach, sometimes followed by the urge to vomit.
nebulizer

A device that produces a very fine vapor to be inhaled.
necrosis

Death of a cell or tissue.
nematode

A roundworm that may infest the digestive tract of humans.
neoplasm

A new growth, tumor.
nephrectomy

Surgical removal of a kidney.
nephritis

Inflammation of a kidney.
nephropathy

Disease of the kidneys. Swelling or breakdown of the kidney.
nephrosis

A disease of the kidney that causes malfunction but no inflammation. Also called nephrotic syndrome.
nerve

A cord-like structure made up of special tissue for carrying electrical impulses from one part of the body to…
neuralgia

Pain along the course of a nerve.
neuritis

Inflammation of a nerve.
neurofibromatosis

An inherited disorder that causes dark spots on the skin and tumors of the skin, peripheral, optic and acoustic…
neurology

The branch of medicine that pertains to the nervous system.
neuroma

A benign but sometimes painful tumor growing on a nerve.
neuron

A nerve cell.
neuropathy

Disease of the nervous system or of an individual nerve.
neurosis

An emotional disorder that can interfere with a person’s ability to lead a normal life.
neutrophil

A mature white blood cell with a three- to five-lobed nucleus.