OET medical vocabulary words list for healthcare professionals.

Medical Vocabulary: Top 100 Words You Must Know for OET

Strong OET medical vocabulary is one of the most vital factors that may make or break your performance in the OET exam. Be it writing a referral letter, listening to a consultation, or speaking to a patient, it’s precise vocabulary that helps you get the information across confidently and clearly.

In real healthcare practice, precise use of terminology ensures the safety of patients, thereby improving communication among medical teams and reflecting professionalism. For that reason, mastery of the OET word list enhances not only your test scores but also your preparation for real clinical practice.

How Medical Terms Are Used in OET Tasks

OET or Occupational English Test is a test conducted for assessing your proficiency in the English language through medical contexts, which means you will be exposed to healthcare terminology in all sections:

Listening: Understanding consultations, discharge summaries and instructions with correct medical terms.
Reading: Identifying medical reports, research abstracts, or policy documents that use specific vocabulary.
Writing: Using correct terms in referral, discharge, or transfer letters.
Speaking: Describing diagnoses, treatments, and procedures in patient-friendly terms.

Knowing OET medical vocabulary means being able to easily toggle between the professional and layman’s terminology, which is highly valued in healthcare communication.

Top 100 Must-Know Medical Words with Meanings

Below, you will find a list of 100 selected words that are considered highly essential for taking the test. The following expressions can be found in OET materials and other real-life situations when working in a hospital.

1–20: Anatomy and Physiology

Artery – Blood vessel carrying blood away from the heart.
Vein – A vessel that carries blood toward the heart.
Lung – Organ responsible for respiration.
Liver – Organ that detoxifies the body and produces bile.
Kidney – Organ that filters blood and produces urine.
Intestine – A part of the digestive system responsible for nutrient absorption.
Brain – Central organ controlling the body and mind.
Heart – The muscle that pumps blood through the body.
Bone — Rigid structure forming the skeleton.
Muscle – The tissue responsible for movement.
Joint — The point where two bones meet.
Tendon – Connective tissue connecting muscle to bone.
Ligament – Bone to bone.
Nerve – Transmits electrical impulses in the body.
Skin – outer covering of the body.
Spine – Backbone protecting the spinal cord.
Stomach – Organ where digestion begins.
Pancreas – produces insulin and digestive enzymes.
Bladder – Stores urine before excretion.
Blood pressure – The force of blood against artery walls.

21–40: Diseases and Conditions

Asthma – A chronic lung condition that makes breathing difficult.
Diabetes – a disease affecting insulin production and blood sugar.
Hypertension – High blood pressure.
Hypotension – Low blood pressure.
Pneumonia – Infection causing inflammation of the lungs.
Arthritis – Inflammation of joints.
Migraine – Severe head-ache often with nausea.
Cancer – Uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells.
Stroke – An acute brain injury due to impaired blood supply.
Fracture – Break in a bone.
Infection – Invasion of the body by pathogens.
Inflammation – The body’s response to injury or infection.
Allergy — overreaction of the immune system to a substance.
Ulcer – Open sore on skin or mucous membrane.
Obesity – A condition characterized by excessive accumulation of body fat.
Anemia – Not having enough healthy red blood cells.
Dehydration – Loss of body fluids.
Insomnia: An inability to fall or stay asleep.
Epilepsy – Neurological disorder causing seizures.
Depression: Pervasive sad mood or loss of interest.

41–60: Treatments and Procedures

Injection – Medication delivered by needle.
Vaccination – Immunization against disease.
Surgery – A medical operation that involves cutting the body.
Transfusion – The transfer of blood from one person to another.
Dialysis – Filtering the blood when kidneys fail.
Therapy – Treatment for physical or mental health problems.
Rehabilitation – Recovery after illness or injury.
Prescription – Written order for medication.
Diagnosis – The determination of a disease.
Prognosis – The probable outcome of disease
Examination – A physical inspection done by a physician.
Consultation: Meeting between patient and healthcare provider.
Discharge – The release of a patient from hospital care.
Referral: The procedure of referring a patient to a specialist.
Monitoring – Continuous observation of the patient’s condition.
Medication – Drugs used to treat illness.
Operation – Surgical procedure.
Sterilization: Elimination of bacteria and germs.
Anesthesia – Loss of sensation for surgical purposes.
Wound dressing- Covering to protect a wound.

61–80: Symptom and Evaluation Terms

Fever – Raised body temperature.
Fatigue – Extreme tiredness.
Pain – Unpleasant physical sensation.
Cough – The forceful expulsion of air from the lungs.
Nausea – A feeling of wanting to vomit.
Emesis – The act of vomiting.
Dizziness – A feeling of light-headedness.
Edema – Swelling of a part of the body because of fluid accumulation.
Bleeding – Loss of blood.
Rash – Skin irritation or redness.
Cramp – A painful muscle contraction.
Injury – Any physical harm.
Infection control – Measures to prevent spread of disease.
Pulse – The heartbeat rate felt on arteries.
Respiration: The process of breathing.
Temperature -The measure of body heat.
Weight – The measure of body mass.
Blood test – Lab analysis of blood.
X-ray: a technique used in imaging to view bones and organs.
Ultrasound – Imaging by means of sound waves.

81–100: Hospital and Communication Terms

Ward – A room in a hospital where patients are accommodated.
Klinik – Ort der ambulanten Betreuung
Pharmacy – Where to get medicines.
Consent -Patient’s agreement to treatment
Record — Documentation of medical details.
Report – Summary of medical findings.
Admission – The entry of a patient into hospital care.
Discharge summary – Document of patient’s treatment.
Equipment- Tools used in medical practice.
Monitor – Device tracking vital signs.
Inpatient – Patient staying overnight in hospital.
Outpatient – Patient treated without overnight stay.
Healthcare provider – Professional who delivers medical services.
Emergency – Urgent medical situation.
Ambulance – Vehicle for emergency transport
First aid -The immediate assistance given before medical treatment.
Sterile – Completely free of bacteria.
Contamination – Presence of harmful substances or microbes.
Isolation – Separation to prevent infection spread.
Sanitization — Cleaning to reduce pathogens.

Grouping words by category (diseases, anatomy, treatment)

For efficient learning, categorize your OET word list according to themes :

Terms of anatomy help with questions relating to body systems.
Disease terms are crucial for diagnosis, patient history sections
Treatment and procedure words are present in writing and speaking tasks.

This grouping strengthens recall and helps you recognize terms in context.

Flashcard and Memorization Strategies

- Make digital or physical flashcards — write the term on one side and its meaning on the other.
- Use spaced repetition apps like Anki or Quizlet to remember words longer.
- Add example sentences from OET practice materials.
- Study in short daily sessions of 15–20 minutes to improve consistency.

Daily Vocabulary Practice Tips

Read medical articles or patient leaflets daily to notice terminology in real use.

Watch OET sample videos to see how healthcare vocabulary sounds in professional speech.

Keep a vocabulary notebook — note down the new terms and review weekly.

Practice paraphrasing of medical expressions to enhance vocabulary and flexibility in communication.

Conclusion

A strong OET medical vocabulary gives you confidence not only for the exam but also for everyday communications in hospitals or clinics. Knowing the right terms ensures clear communication, patient trust, and professional credibility. Build up the habit of learning vocabulary consistently, as the more you read and listen to healthcare terminology, the more naturally it will flow in your OET tasks and real-life practice.