Glossary Term - N
Alphabetical glossary of health & disability services, health terms and general MidCentral District Health Board information.
Nasogastric tube
A tube that is passed up your nose, and down your throat to your stomach. It’s used for draining off what’s in your stomach, or for feeding if you can’t swallow.
Nausea
Feeling sick, or wanting to puke, isn't very nice. Nausea is the word that doctors sometimes use to say this.
Nebulizer
A nebulizer is a bit like an inhaler, but you wear a facemask. The machine blows some medicine into the facemask so you can breathe it in.
Needs Assessment Service Co-ordination
Neonatal Unit
Nephrology
The study of kidneys and diseases that affect them. The doctor who specialises in nephrology is called a nephrologist.
Nervous System
This is just another way of describing your brain and the nerves around it. It works like a modem, sending signals around your body. It tells your brain when you touch something. If something's hot or cold, a signal zooms from your fingers up to your brain.
Neurologist
This is a special type of doctor who will help you if you're having problems with your nervous system.
Neurology
The study of the brain and nervous system.
Neurosurgery
Any operation on the brain or nervous system. The doctor who does the operation is called a neurosurgeon.
Nuclear Medicine
This is a type of scan that uses radioactive dye that will show up on x-rays and other images. The amount of radioactivity in the dye is tiny – much less than you’d get from a normal x-ray.
Nursing
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Last Updated 17/10/2007