Book excerpt: Although written primarily as a home reference guide, Barron’s Dictionary of Medical Terms has been valued, used, and highly praised by medical instructors, student nurses, and others in the healthcare professions. This expanded and updated edition clearly and concisely describes medical terms in language that the layman can understand. Thousands of terms and definitions cover— Descriptions of diseases and their symptoms First-aid procedures Human anatomy and body parts Dentistry Medications and their applications Instructive tables covering important elements, vitamins, trade and generic names of commonly prescribed drugs, and much more Many terms are supplemented with instructive line illustrations. Readers are also guided by extensive cross references.