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

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

Types and branches of medicine

Medicine has, as we have indicated a broad science, about fifty branches and official specialties. However, and although we are actually talking about the same science, it is possible to make different classifications and typologies of this type of science .

We will then 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. Clinic

Clinic-centred medicine is what appears in the collective imagination when we talk about this science. This is the type of medicine in which the professional has a direct relationship with the patient , makes a diagnosis and proposes and implements a treatment. It includes the majority of specialisations and is usually the basis for redirecting to other types of professionals when direct treatment by them is not possible.

2. Surgical

Surgical medicine is that which is mainly dedicated to the treatment of a previously diagnosed problem, generally applying an invasive methodology in which the professionals work in a direct way altering the organism, either removing or removing 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 ones , in which both surgical and clinical procedures are used. This is the case of some very well known specialities, 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 from samples of elements such as blood, urine, feces, sexual fluids, secretions or biopsies or from diagnostic tests such as MRIs, plaques or CT scans. Although we don’t usually think of them as doctors, 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 one that is dedicated to diagnosing and treating illnesses in living patients, but the truth is that there is also a type of medicine whose objective is to evaluate the existence of injuries derived from criminal activities or to investigate the causes of a person’s death .

6. Occupational medicine

Occupational medicine is that which is dedicated to the analysis and treatment of diseases and injuries that may occur within the work environment .

7. Preventive medicine

This type of medicine, although usually used as part of the clinical process, is the one that specializes not in the treatment of a current situation but in trying to prevent a disease from arising , to manage to detect it as soon as possible so that it does not generate a serious problem or in the case of a disease already present, to prevent it from getting worse or reappearing.

8. Sports Medicine

The type of medicine dedicated to the field of sport , usually treats problems of a muscular and bone type, as well as ligaments and tendons. They can also treat other problems, as well as carry out preventive tasks.

9. Integrative Medicine

A type of medicine that aims to bring together the knowledge of scientific medicine and that of alternative and natural therapies , seeking in its practice an integration of both types of knowledge in medical practice.

10. Complementary medicine

Complementary medicine is understood as a type of medicine in which they are used together with the own and usual methodologies of medicine together with other traditional practices that intend to serve as a complement and not as a substitute of the first ones.

The 24 medical branches or specializations

Within the previous types of medicine we can find specializations focused on different aspects such as the area of the body where they focus their studies or the age at which they focus.

Although there are many more, we show you twenty-four of them below to give you 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 provides answers to more general health problems. It is usually the doctor we see first, and if necessary, can refer to a specialist.

2. Pediatrics

Paediatrics 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. It 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 resulting from the difficulties in expressing the type of discomfort on the part of the child.

Within it, moreover, there are multiple possible sub-specializations.

3. Cardiology

Cardiology is probably one of the best known specialties of medicine, being the sub-discipline in charge of working and studying the cardiovascular system, specifically the heart. From arrhythmias to heart attacks, including congenital problems or heart diseases, are some of its areas 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 that focuses on the problems and health of the female reproductive system, both at the genital and mammary levels.

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

6. Otolaryngology

Otorhinolaryngology is dedicated to the study of the auditory system, the larynx and the 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 systems, treating problems that may involve areas such as the testicles, the penis, the adrenal glands, or the peritoneum. It is sometimes confused with proctology.

8. Endocrinology

The endocrine system is one of the important building blocks of our body, despite being generally undervalued. It is this hormone-related system that is the subject of study in endocrinology, which can treat hormonal problems, growth problems, thyroid problems or diabetes.

9. Dermatology

The skin and its problems and diseases are the main object of study in dermatology, treating problems linked 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 physical therapy and rehabilitation, as well as surgery.

11. Oncology

This branch of medicine deals with one of the types of problem that most people are concerned about: cancer.

12. Geriatrics

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

13. Dentistry

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

14. Gastroenterology

Gastroenterologists are the specialists in digestive problems, their work being focused on stomach and intestinal problems.

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 the one that deals with the study of infectious diseases, whether they are viral or bacterial.

17. Toxicology

This branch of medicine is in charge of studying and working with all those cases in which some type of intoxication has occurred, whether it is food or drug consumption or contact with some toxic substance.

19. Hematology

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

20. Ophthalmology

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

21. Radiology

One of the specialties that are less adjusted to the usual functioning of what most consider a doctor, radiology consists of the study and performance of diagnostic tests with techniques that use some type of radiation.

22. Proctology

Branch or type of medicine that is in charge of working and analyzing all those problems related to the organs linked to excretion: the colon, the anus and the 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 tells us, this is the branch of medicine that focuses 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 above-mentioned branches are medical specialties which follow the scientific method and have been shown to be effective in treating their problems through various studies.

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

Bibliographic references:

  • Laín Entralgo, P. (1978, reprinted 2006). History of medicine. Barcelona: Elsevier Masson.
  • López Piñero, J. M. (2000). Brief history of medicine. Madrid, Alianza.