Cataloging: Using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH®) in Cataloging
Module 2—Introduction to Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and the MeSH Browser
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Introduction
Module 1
Subject Analysis Principles
Module 2
Introduction to Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and the MeSH Browser
Module 3
Selecting the Main Concept
Module 4
Use of Topical Subheadings in MeSH
Module 5
Geographic Headings
Module 6
Publication Types
Module 7
Names as Subjects
Module 8
Deconstructed Headings vs. Subject Strings
MeSH Records
Three types of MeSH records
- Descriptors (main headings)
- Qualifiers (subheadings)
- Supplementary Concept Records (not used by Cataloging)
Descriptors
Three types of descriptors
- Main Headings
- Indicate the subject/topic
- Examples: Body Weight, Kidney, Self-Medication
- Indicate the subject/topic
- Publication Characteristics (Publication Types)
- Indicate the genre or format
- Examples: Atlases, Handbooks, Statistics
- Indicate the genre or format
- Geographics
- Descriptors which include continents, regions, countries, states, and other geographic subdivisions
- Examples: Atlantic Islands, North America, England
- Descriptors which include continents, regions, countries, states, and other geographic subdivisions
Qualifiers
- Qualifiers (subheadings)
- Used in conjunction with Descriptors to convey a particular aspect of a subject
- Examples: adverse effects, diagnosis, therapy
- Used in conjunction with Descriptors to convey a particular aspect of a subject
