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Accessing MeSH

Catalogers access MeSH records online via the MeSH Browser. For instructions on using the MeSH Browser, see Module 3.


Introduction to MeSH

  • MeSH is the National Library of Medicine's controlled vocabulary thesaurus
  • Consists of a set of terms providing preferred terms (Descriptors), their definitions, equivalent and related terms, and guidance on use of the terms, arranged in a hierarchical structure that permits searching at various levels of specificity
  • Organized hierarchically into 16 trees

Last Reviewed: May 4, 2017