Key takeaways
- We define 25 common medical terms to help you understand common jargon.
- Select Health’s Care Managers can help members find and understand care.
- If you’re looking for a new health insurance plan, we can help.
Medical terms can make doctor visits, test results, and medical records feel confusing. While healthcare professionals use specific language to communicate clearly and accurately, patients aren't always familiar with those words. Learning a few common medical terms can help you better understand your health, follow your provider's recommendations, and feel more confident when navigating healthcare decisions. This guide explains 25 frequently used medical terms in plain language to help you make sense of the medical information you may encounter.
When you’re reading your doctor’s notes or looking at their instructions, sometimes they’ll use words that aren’t part of our everyday vocabulary. Medical professionals use those terms for procedures, conditions, and descriptions to be specific and consistent—but they’re not always clear to patients.
It can be helpful to memorize a few common terms to help you better understand your health and any instructions your provider gives you.Though there are hundreds of medical terms out there, these are a few common words you might encounter.
1. Benign
Something that is benign is not cancerous and won’t spread throughout your body. Sometimes benign tumors or lesions can cause problems of their own, but they aren’t cancerous and won’t invade nearby tissue.1
2. Malignant
Something that is malignant means it has cancerous cells and can spread to other tissue throughout your body.2
3. Hypertension
Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure. High blood pressure starts at 130 systolic (the top number) and 80 diastolic (the lower number).3 Elevated blood pressure is 120-129/70-79; a healthy blood pressure is generally <120/<80.
4. Hypotension
Hypotension is the medical term for low blood pressure. It happens when blood pressure is lower than 90/60 mm Hg.4
5. Acute
Acute, in a medical context, means something that happens suddenly. Symptoms can change, show up, or get worse very quickly.5
6. Chronic
Chronic, in a medical context, means something that continues over an extended period of time, generally three months or longer. If you have a chronic condition or pain, it usually does not easily or quickly go away.6
7. Inpatient
Inpatient means you stay in the hospital overnight.
8. Outpatient
Outpatient means you get care from a hospital, clinic, or surgery center and go home on the same day. Sometimes, this is also called ambulatory care.
9. Angina
Angina is chest pain that results from your heart not getting enough blood flow. It is often a symptom of coronary artery disease.7
10. Biopsy
A biopsy is a procedure where a medical provider removes a sample of tissue or cells from your body to test for damage or disease. Some biopsies can be done in a doctor’s office, others require surgery. Not all biopsies are used to check for cancer.8
11. Body Mass Index (BMI)
Body mass index (BMI) uses your height and weight to estimate total body fat.7 Obesity is often determined by BMI. It’s important to note that BMI is not reliable in all cases, as some people weigh more due to muscle and not body fat.9
14. Edema
Edema is the medical term for swelling. This can happen anywhere in the body, but you might notice it more in the legs and feet.12
15. Embolism
An embolism is a blockage that happens in a blood vessel. A blood clot, air bubble, and fat droplet are all examples of an embolism. This causes a sudden lack of blood flow to that area.13
16. Epidermis
The epidermis is the top layer of skin on your body. It helps prevent germs, dirt, and chemicals from entering your body and also keeps moisture in your body.14
17. Etiology
Etiology explains the cause of a condition or disease.15
18. Fracture
A fracture is a break or crack in the bone. There are different kinds of fractures, such as stress and compound fractures.16
19. Lesion
A lesion is an area of abnormal or damaged tissue.17 It can be in the brain, blood vessels, organs, the skin and other places throughout your body. Lesions can be caused by injury, infection, or disease. Ulcers, abscesses, sores, cysts, tumors, and wounds are all examples of lesions.17
20. Noninvasive
In medicine, noninvasive has two definitions. The first means that when you have a procedure done, tools or instruments do not break the skin or go into the body. An MRI scan is an example of a noninvasive procedure.18
The other medical definition of noninvasive means the disease is not traveling or spreading throughout the body.
21. Pathology
Pathology is how medical providers determine what kind of diseases someone has based on a test or sample. A pathologist, a medical doctor trained in pathology, uses a microscope to examine tissue, cells, body fluids, and more to look for signs of disease.19
22. Polyp
A polyp is a growth from a mucous membrane.20 These can occur in many places throughout the body, especially in the colon, nasal passages, and uterus. Most polyps are not cancer, but some types can develop into cancer over time, which is why doctors sometimes remove them.
23. Prognosis
A prognosis is the prediction of the outcome or extent of a disease. Based on symptoms, tests, scans, and research, your medical provider may give you their opinion on what recovery or remission looks like for you.21
24. Sepsis
Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection. When you get an infection in your body, it usually goes away on its own or with mild treatments. Sometimes, the infection sets off a chain reaction in the body that can cause tissue damage or organ failure.22
25. Sutures
Sutures are stitches you get in your body to bring two parts together. You might get sutures after surgery or if you get a deep cut.23
We can help
Navigating medical care can be challenging. Our Care Managers are here to help make accessing medical care simple. Select Health members can call 800-442-5305 (TTY 711) to connect with someone who can help you make appointments and stay on track with your health. Visit our website to learn more.
Select Health offers health insurance plans for many different groups and needs. If you’re looking for a new health insurance plan and want a simpler experience, visit SelectHealth.org/Plans to explore your options.
This article is intended for informational purposes only and is not legal or medical advice. Links to other sites are provided as a convenience, but Select Health does not endorse the third-party sites, information, or services.
The content included here is for your information and not a substitute for professional medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. Please consult your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. Additionally, this information does not guarantee benefits. To review your benefits, please reference your plan materials or call Member Services at 800-538-5038 weekdays, from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., closed Sunday. TTY users call 711.
Sources
1. Benign, MedlinePlus, 2025
2. Malignancy, MedlinePlus, 2024
3. Understanding Blood Pressure Readings, American Heart Association, 2025
4. Low Blood Pressure - When Blood Pressure Is Too Low, American Heart Association, 2024
5. Acute, MedlinePlus, 2024
6. Chronic, MedlinePlus, 2025
7. Angina, MedlinePlus, 2025
8. Biopsy, MedlinePlus, 2025
9. How are obesity & overweight diagnosed?, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2021
10. Cancer Classification, National Cancer Institute, 2026
11. About Cellulitis, Centers for Disease Control, 2025
12. Edema, MedlinePlus, 2025
13. Arterial embolism, MedlinePlus, 2026
14. Anatomy, Skin (Integument), Epidermis, National Center for Biotechnology Information, 2024
15. Etiology, Merriam-Webster, 2026
16. Fractures, MedlinePlus, 2024
17. Lesion, National Cancer Institute
18. Noninvasive, MedlinePlus, 2025
19. Pathology, American Board of Medical Specialties
20. Polyp, National Cancer Institute
21. Prognosis, National Cancer Institute
22. Sepsis, MedlinePlus, 2023
23. Suture, Merriam-Webster, 2026
22. About Cellulitis, Centers for Disease Control, 2025
23. Fractures, MedlinePlus, 2024
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