> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.snomed.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.snomed.org/education/snomed-ct-education-editorial-guide/readme/authoring/general-naming-conventions/descriptions.md).

# Descriptions

<mark style="color:$danger;">**This Editorial Guide is used for Education Purposes Only. It is used in the Authoring Courses and Certifications. It is based on the January 2026 Editorial Guide.**</mark>

A concept has multiple associated *descriptions*.

Each description has a *description type* and a unique numeric *description identifier.*

* Fully specified name (FSN) and synonym (SYN) are description types in SNOMED CT.
* A preferred term (PT) is a synonym that has been marked as preferred in a particular dialect.

Every concept may have only one preferred term in a specific dialect. Two preferred terms for the same language may coexist if they belong to two distinct dialects (e.g. variant US and GB of English language).

### Examples

#### 22490002 | Bleeding of mouth (disorder)|

| Description type | Description                  |
| ---------------- | ---------------------------- |
| FSN              | Bleeding of mouth (disorder) |
| PT               | Bleeding of mouth            |
| SYN              | Bleeding in mouth            |
| SYN - US English | Oral hemorrhage              |
| SYN - GB English | Oral haemorrhage             |
| SYN              | Stomatorrhagia               |

#### 241563001 | Computed tomography of upper limb (procedure)|

| Description type | Description                                   |
| ---------------- | --------------------------------------------- |
| FSN              | Computed tomography of upper limb (procedure) |
| PT               | CT of upper limb                              |
| SYN              | Computed tomography of upper limb             |

#### 32849002 | Esophageal structure (body structure)|

| Description type | Description                           |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------- |
| FSN              | Esophageal structure (body structure) |
| PT - US English  | Esophageal structure                  |
| PT - GB English  | Oesophageal structure                 |

Disjunctives (for example, *and/or*) should be in lower case.

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