Skip to Main Content
CWU Libraries logo
Ask a Librarian chat image Ask the Libraries
Home

Health Sciences

A guide to tools and resources for students in the CWU Health Science degree and certificate programs

What is MeSH?

Medical Subject Headings is a controlled vocabulary created by the National Library of Medicine. A controlled vocabulary is an organized collection of terms and related terms created so that only one preferred term represents a concept. The preferred term is usually the term most commonly used in the professional field. For example, the MeSH term for heart attack is myocardial infarction.

Tutorial on using MeSH in PubMed