What is the medical term for a headache?

The medical term for a headache is "cephalalgia." This term derives from the Greek words "kephalē," meaning head, and "algos," meaning pain. Therefore, cephalalgia literally translates to "pain in the head." It is the broadly accepted terminology in the medical field used to describe any type of headache, whether it be tension headaches, migraines, or cluster headaches.

The other terms presented hold different meanings: cystitis refers to inflammation of the bladder, cholecystectomy is a surgical procedure for removing the gallbladder, and compliance generally pertains to adherence to a prescribed treatment or plan, rather than any specific condition or symptom. This contextualizes why cephalalgia is the appropriate term for a headache within the medical vocabulary.