MeSH Browser

The MeSH Browser is an online vocabulary look-up aid available for use with MeSH® (Medical Subject Headings). It is designed to help quickly locate descriptors of possible interest and to show the hierarchy in which descriptors of interest appear. Virtually complete MeSH records are available, including the scope notes, annotations, entry vocabulary, history notes, allowable qualifiers, etc. The browser does not link directly to any MEDLINE or other database retrieval system and thus is not a substitute for the PUBMED system.

The MeSH Browser points to the newest version of MeSH and so it will also find new Supplementary Concepts as these are added and updated weekly.

The MeSH Browser may be used to find descriptors, qualifiers, or Supplementary Concepts of interest and see these in relationship to other concepts. The browser is part of the MeSH Web pages. It finds descriptors of interest without assuming knowledge of the often-complex vocabulary structure and rules. For example, if you enter male neoplasms as a search, the Browser will display a list of related descriptors including:

Breast Neoplasms, Male (a MeSH descriptor)

Genital Neoplasms, Male (a MeSH descriptor)

Male Breast Neoplasms (an entry term to MeSH)

Male Genital Neoplasms (an entry term to MeSH)

Etc.

The look-up can be restricted or limited with any of the following:

Main Headings
Qualifiers
Supplementary Concepts
All of the Above

Searching for names of chemicals and other Supplementary Concepts (non-descriptors and non-qualifiers) can be limited to any of the following fields:

Heading Mapped To (HM) (Supplementary List)
Indexing Information (II) (Supplementary List)
Pharmacological Action (PA)
CAS Registry/EC Number (RN)
Related CAS Registry Number (RR)

When a single descriptor has been selected, the complete record can then be displayed. Fields or elements within the descriptor are linked to additional sources such as related Indexing Manual sections, definitions and other similar information.

The MeSH hierarchy can also be displayed online as in this example and each descriptor is a direct link to the complete MeSH record for that term. Example for Breast Neoplasms:

Neoplasms [C04]
Neoplasms by Site [C04.588]
	Abdominal Neoplasms [C04.588.033] +
	Anal Gland Neoplasms [C04.588.083]
	Bone Neoplasms [C04.588.149] +
	Breast Neoplasms [C04.588.180]
		Breast Neoplasms, Male [C04.588.180.260]
		Mammary Neoplasms [C04.588.180.520]
		Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental [C04.588.180.525]
		Phyllodes Tumor [C04.588.180.762]
	Digestive System Neoplasms [C04.588.274] +
	Etc.

For additional information, contact:

Stuart Nelson, M.D., Head

Medical Subject Headings

Telephone:

(301) 496-1495 (voice)

(301) 402-2002 (fax)

Comments may also be sent to meshsugg@nlm.nih.gov

To MeSH Browser

Last updated: 25 April 2003
First published: 01 September 1999
Metadata| Permanence level: Permanent: Dynamic Content