Cataloging: Using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH®) in Cataloging
Module 3—Selecting the Main Concept
page 5 of 20
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
Specialty Headings
- If the MeSH annotation begins with “SPEC:”, this indicates that the term is a specialty heading and refers to the field or profession. Many specialty headings have organ, disease, procedure, or phenomena counterparts
- Use specialty headings when your work is discussing the field or profession, covering topics such as trends, history, education, and economics
- Use the appropriate disease term when that is the primary topic, even if the author is using the specialty term
- For example, a work titled "The Status of Diagnosis in Endocrinology" should be assigned the heading
- 650 12 $a Endocrine System Diseases $x diagnosis
NOT Endocrinology
- 650 12 $a Endocrine System Diseases $x diagnosis
- For example, a work titled "The Status of Diagnosis in Endocrinology" should be assigned the heading
- MeSH will generally refer you from the specialty to the related disease term in an annotation, scope note or see also reference
- Examine your work carefully to determine if the specialty term is actually appropriate. More commonly a disease or procedure term will be the correct heading
