MecA
Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) is a comprehensive controlled vocabulary used for indexing journal articles and books in the life sciences. It serves as a thesaurus that facilitates searching by providing a consistent way to retrieve information that may use different terminology for the same concepts.
History[edit | edit source]
MeSH was introduced in 1960 by the United States National Library of Medicine (NLM) as a way to improve the indexing and retrieval of biomedical literature. It was developed to replace the earlier subject heading system used by the NLM.
Structure[edit | edit source]
MeSH is organized in a hierarchical structure, which allows for searching at various levels of specificity. The main components of MeSH are:
- Descriptors: These are the main headings used to index articles. Each descriptor represents a single concept and is accompanied by a unique identifier.
- Qualifiers: Also known as subheadings, these are used to refine the meaning of a descriptor. For example, "therapy" can be a qualifier for a disease descriptor.
- Entry terms: These are synonyms or alternate terms that map to a descriptor, helping users find the correct heading even if they use different terminology.
Usage[edit | edit source]
MeSH is primarily used in the MEDLINE/PubMed database to index articles. It is also used in other NLM databases and by various other organizations and institutions worldwide. Researchers and librarians use MeSH to perform precise searches and retrieve relevant literature efficiently.
Updates[edit | edit source]
MeSH is updated annually to reflect changes in the biomedical field, including the introduction of new concepts and the obsolescence of outdated terms. The updates ensure that MeSH remains a current and useful tool for indexing and searching.
Applications[edit | edit source]
MeSH is used in various applications, including:
- Indexing articles for PubMed and other databases.
- Assisting in the development of search strategies for systematic reviews.
- Facilitating the organization of information in electronic health records.
Also see[edit | edit source]
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
