Module 1: Foundations of MeSH in MEDLINE®

MeSH Tree Structure


Overview


Main headings are organized in a "tree" with 16 main branches:

  • A. Anatomy
  • B. Organisms
  • C. Diseases
  • D. Chemicals and Drugs
  • E. Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment
  • F. Psychiatry and Psychology
  • G. Phenomena and Processes
  • H. Disciplines and Occupations
  • I. Anthropology, Education, Sociology and Social Phenomena
  • J. Technology, Industry, Agriculture
  • K. Humanities
  • L. Information Science
  • M. Named Groups
  • N. Health Care
  • V. Publication Characteristics
  • Z. Geographicals
Image of the MeSH Tree from the course logo

Each branch has many levels of sub-branches, and each heading has a position in the hierarchy. For example:

Anatomy        
  Body Regions      
    Torso    
      Back  
        Lumbosacral Region
Sacrococcygeal Region

Some terms appear in more than one branch of the tree. For example:

Anatomy        
  Body Regions      
    Head    
      Ear  
Anatomy        
  Sense Organs      
    Ear    
      Ear, External +
Ear, Middle +
Ear, Inner +