5 Commonly Confused Medical Terms You Need to Get Right

5 Commonly Confused Medical Terms You Need to Get Right

Gearing up for the OET exam? Don’t forget to expand and refine your medical vocabulary.

OET Preparation Course Hack: Why You Need to Get Everything Right Medical terms and expressions are tricky. There are words that seem interchangeable and words that sound alike. And, while you can get away with mispronouncing, misspelling, or misusing a word or two in most situations, you don’t have the same privilege when you operate as a healthcare professional.

One mistake and you can get in the way of an operation or worse endanger a patient’s life. Another reason why you need to get everything right while you’re still preparing for OET is the available resources.

Another rea“on why you should refine your medical vocabulary while you’re reviewing for the OET exam is the available resources. You can easily ask your professors (if you’re still at med school) or colleagues (if you’re currently employed) to explain unfamiliar words. You can also consult your instructor if you’re enrolled in an Occupational English Test Philippines review center. Once you move to the UK to work, you’ll no longer be able to talk much with these people.

5 Commonly Confused Medical Terms Expand and refine your medical vocabulary. Here are the medical terms that confuse patients and healthcare professionals alike.

1. Mucus and Mucous Nope, the latter is not the British variation of the former. Mucus is the slimy liquid found in one’s sinuses, which snags dust and dirt before they can reach one’s lungs. Mucous, meanwhile, is an adjective. When used in tandem with “membrane” (or mucous membrane), it pertains to the linings of your respiratory passages that produce mucus.

2. Diverticulitis and Diverticulosis When waste, fluids, or gas apply pressure on the intestine’s walls, diverticula can form.

Diverticula is one of the signs of diverticulosis. Diverticulitis, on the other hand, happens when the diverticula get inflamed or infected.

3. Oral and Aural Oral pertains to the mouth or speaking while aural pertains to the ear or hearing. Since these terms sound alike, it’s difficult to distinguish them from each other when they’re spoken. So, if you ever need to use either of them in conversations, spell them out so there won’t be any misunderstandings.

4. Palpitation and Palpation Palpitation refers to a strong, irregular, and noticeable heartbeat that’s usually caused by alcohol, caffeine, high stress levels, and extreme exertion. Palpation, meanwhile, is a method that medical professionals use to examine a body part.

5. Urgent Care and Emergency Room Urgent care centers are where patients go when they have minor symptoms or injuries (e.g., fever, cough, rashes, vomiting, sore throat, shallow cut, etc.) and can’t get a hold of their regular physician. The emergency room (ER), on the other hand, cater to patients who need immediate treatment.

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