Download Medicine Vocabulary

Medicine:
Past and Present
plague
infected
microbes
antibodies
bacteria
vaccine
epidemic
immune
dispel
sterilize
Open Court 4th Grade Unit 3 From Mystery to Medicine Lesson 1 Medicine: Past and Present
plague “Use context clues”
In the middle of the fourteenth century, an
epidemic called the Black Plague swept
across Europe, Asia and Africa.
A plague that swept through the country left
few people alive.
plague - a disease that kills a large number of people
infected
“Use context clues”
Why did some wounds get
infected and others heal?
Wash that cut on your hand so it
doesn’t get infected with germs.
Infected - having germs that cause disease
Video http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/op/handwashing.htm
microbes
“Use context clues”
He found many different kinds of
microbes, as these tiny animals are
called today.
Tiny plants or animals called
microbes, or germs, cause disease.
microbes - tiny organisms or germs too small to be seen without a microscope.
Antibodies
“Use context clues”
He tried to think of a way of getting the body
to develop these antibodies to attack the
disease without having to get smallpox first.
A person’s body makes antibodies that fight
against the effects of disease germs.
Antibodies - special substances produced by the body that
destroy or weaken germs
bacteria
“Use context clues”
Before he could make the connection
between these bacteria, or germs, and
diseases, he had a more difficult job.
Bacteria is another name for germs that
cause disease.
bacteria – germs
vaccine
“Use context clues”
Using this information, Pasteur was
able to develop a vaccine for anthrax.
Getting a vaccine for measles protects
you from catching the disease.
vaccine – special substances used to protect
a person or animal from a disease
epidemic an outbreak of disease
that spreads quickly to
many people
Immunenot able to get
certain diseases
dispel
Prove wrong
SterilizeTo make free from
germs
When harmful microbes, or germs, enter the
body, they multiply and cause disease.
This is called infection.
Your body's defenses usually do a killer
job of squelching harmful microbes.
But sometimes germs multiply faster
than the body can handle and you get
sick. People come in contact with
germs in many ways, including:




Contaminated blood: Harmful microbes
can enter your body through your
bloodstream.
Infected food or water: Dangerous
microbes can enter through your mouth if
you drink untreated water or swallow
food that's uncooked or unwashed.
Disease-carrying creatures: Harmful
microbes can enter your body through
close contact with infected creatures.
Germy air: Dangerous microbes can
spread through the air and enter your nose
and mouth when you breathe.
http://www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/infection/index.html