The 24 branches of Medicine (and how they try to cure patients).

These are the functions of each of the medical fields.

Medicine is one of the most important scientific disciplines in the world.It is one of the most important scientific disciplines, since its evolution and its practical application are fundamental in maintaining our state of health.

In addition to this, it is also one of those with the greatest number of branches, specializations and subspecialties, with around fifty at present. And that is why in this article we are going to make a brief mention of some of the most important ones through a summary of the branches of medicine.

Types and branches of medicine

The medicine counts, as we have indicated a wide science, with around fifty branches and official specialties. However, and although we are actually talking about the same science, different classifications and typologies of this type of science are possible..

In the following we will make a small separation of medicine into several basic types of specializations.

However, it should be borne in mind that there are a large number of professions within the health field, without being medical. The clearest examples are nurses, assistants, psychologists or pharmacists. That is why we will not see them among the following branches or types of medicine.

1. Clinical

Clinically focused medicine is the one that appears in the collective imagination when we talk about this science. It is the type of medicine in which the professional deals directly with the patient, makes a diagnosis and proposes and implements the treatment.It is the type of medicine in which the professional deals directly with the patient, makes a diagnosis and proposes and implements a treatment. It includes most specializations and is usually the basis for redirection to other types of professionals when direct treatment by them is not possible.

2. Surgical

Surgical medicine is that which is dedicated primarily to the treatment of a previously diagnosed problem, generally applying an invasive methodology in which the professionals work directly altering the organism, either by removing or extirpating some problematic part or placing devices that can improve its functioning.

3. Medical-surgical

We could understand this type of medicine as a mixture of the two previous onesIt is a combination of both surgical and clinical procedures. This is the case of some well-known specialties, such as ophthalmology.

4. Laboratory

Within this category we can find all those branches that focus not on providing a direct treatment to the patient, but that work from the analysis or samples of elements such as blood, urine, urine, urine, urine or Blood samples. work from the analysis of samples of elements such as blood, urine, feces, sexual fluids, secretions or biopsies or from diagnostic tests such as MRIs, feces, sexual fluids, secretions or biopsies, or from diagnostic tests such as MRIs, X-rays or CT scans. Although we do not usually think of them when we talk about physicians, without their service it would not be possible to diagnose or treat a large number of problems.

5. Forensic medicine

Generally, when we speak of medicine, we think of that which is dedicated to diagnose and treat diseases in living patients, but the truth is that there is also a type of medicine whose objective is to assess the existence of injuries resulting from criminal activities or to investigate the causes of death of a patient. investigate the causes of death of a person.

6. Occupational medicine

Occupational medicine is medicine that is dedicated to analyzing and treating illnesses and injuries that may occur in the workplace..

7. Preventive Medicine

This type of medicine, although usually employed as a part of the clinical process, specializes not in treating a current situation, but in trying to prevent a disease from arising in the first place. specializes not in the treatment of a current situation but in trying to prevent a disease from arising, to detect it as early as possible so that it can be treated.It is a medicine that specializes not in treating a current situation but in trying to prevent a disease from arising, to detect it as soon as possible so that it does not generate a serious problem or, in the case of a disease that is already present, to prevent it from worsening or reappearing.

8. Sports medicine

The type of medicine dedicated to the field of the sportusually treat muscle and bone problems, as well as ligaments and tendons. They can also treat other problems, as well as perform preventive tasks.

9. Integrative medicine

A type of medicine that aims to combine the knowledge of scientific medicine with that of alternative and natural therapies.The aim is to integrate both types of knowledge in medical practice.

10. Complementary Medicine

Complementary medicine is understood as a type of medicine in which the usual methodologies of medicine are used together with other traditional practices that are intended to serve as a complement and not as a substitute for the former.

The 24 branches or medical specializations

Within the above types of medicine we can find specializations focused on different aspects such as the area of the organism on which they focus their studies or the age on which they are focused.

Although there are many more, here are twenty-four of them to give us an idea of their great variability.

1. General and family medicine

General and family medicine is the basic branch of medicine, which is not specialized in a particular age group or part of the body, but has a general knowledge of most areas and usually responds to the most general health problems. This is usually the doctor we see first, who can refer to a specialist if necessary.

2. Pediatrics

Pediatrics is one of the most important branches or types of medicine, since it deals with the health problems of one of the most vulnerable age groups: children. This is a peculiar specialty, since in addition to the fact that children require a more particular type of treatment, the important role of the patient's parents must be taken into account, both in obtaining information and in making any decision and the possible loss of information derived from the difficulties in expressing the type of discomfort on the part of the minor.

Within it, moreover, there are multiple possible subspecializations.

3. Cardiology

Cardiology is probably one of the best known specialties in medicine, being the subdiscipline in charge of working and studying the cardiovascular system, specifically the heart. From arrhythmias to heart attacks, passing through congenital problems or heart diseases, are some of its fields of application. In some cases it can be linked to another specialty, cardiovascular surgery.

4. Pneumology

This is the branch of medicine that works with typical problems of the respiratory system, especially the lungs. Examples of typical problems in which they may be linked are cystic fibrosis or COPD.

5. Gynecology and obstetrics

Gynecology is the medical specialty focused on the problems and health of the female reproductive system, both genital and mammary.

As for obstetrics, it is dedicated to the study and maintenance of health in the process of pregnancy and childbirth, as well as postpartum. Her work is with both the mother and the child.

6. Otolaryngology

Otolaryngology is dedicated to the study of the auditory system, larynx and pharynx, working on problems that can range from infections to hearing loss.

7. Urology

Urology is the branch of medicine that works with and studies the male reproductive and genitourinary system, treating problems that may involve areas such as the testicles, penis, adrenal glands or peritoneum. It is sometimes confused with proctology.

8. Endocrinology

The endocrine system is one of the important parts of our body despite being generally undervalued. It is this system related to hormones that is the object of study of endocrinology, which can treat hormonal problems, growth, thyroid problems or diabetes.

9. Dermatology

The skin and its problems and diseases are the main object of study of dermatology, treating problems related to pustules, cysts, burns, freckles, abscesses, eczema or even melanomas.

10. Traumatology

Traumatology is the branch of medicine that focuses on the effects of contusions and blows, usually with ruptures or dislocations. It is often associated with physiotherapy and rehabilitation, as well as surgery.

11. Oncology

This branch of medicine deals with one of the types of problem that is of greatest concern to the majority of the population: cancer.

12. Geriatrics

A specialty that, instead of focusing on a disease, focuses on the usual problems of a certain age group. In this case, it focuses on the elderly, working with common health problems or even dementia.

13. Dentistry

The dentition, gums and the masticatory system in general are the object of study of dentistry.

14. Gastroenterology

Gastroenterologists are specialists in digestive problems, and their work focuses on problems of the stomach and intestines.

15. Nephrology

This branch of medicine studies and works with all those problems related to the kidneys and their functioning.

16. Infectology

Although this specialty is not one of the best known by the general population, it is in charge of the study of infectious diseases, whether viral or bacterial.

17. Toxicology

This branch of medicine is in charge of studying and working with all those cases in which there has been some type of intoxication, be it food poisoning, drug use or contact with a toxic substance.

19. Hematology

A type of medical specialty focused on problems related to blood.

20. Ophthalmology

The branch of medicine that studies the functioning and disorders and diseases related to the visual organs: the eyes.

21. Radiology

One of the specialties that least conforms to the usual functioning of what most consider a physician, radiology consists of the study and performance of diagnostic tests using techniques that employ some type of radiation.

22. Proctology

A branch or type of medicine that deals with the work and analysis of all problems related to the organs involved in excretion: the colon, anus and rectum.

23. Rheumatology

This branch of medicine deals with the study, diagnosis and treatment of problems related to joints and muscles.

24. Immunology

As the name of this specialty indicates, this is the branch of medicine focused on the study of the immune system and the problems and diseases it may have, treating problems such as HIV infection or lupus.

Other types of medicine

All the aforementioned branches are specialties of medicine which follow the scientific method and have proven to be effective in the treatment of their problems through various studies. and have been shown to be effective in the treatment of their problems through various studies.

However, there are other types of medicine that do not usually have scientific evidence and are usually guided by spirituality or tradition. We are talking about traditional medicine and alternative medicine, which are used by a large number of people and enjoy a certain popularity despite the fact that there are hardly any studies on their efficacy and the few that exist are generally contradictory or do not demonstrate greater efficacy than placebo.

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