Imagine a small plastic cube. Each side is 1 centimeter by 1 centimeter. If you poured juice into the cube, the volume contained would be 1 cubic centimeter. Cubic centimeters and milliliters are both units of the metric system of measurement, which is used by scientists and medical professionals around the world.

One cubic centimeter -- abbreviated cm3 or cc -- is exactly equivalent to 1 milliliter, abbreviated as 1 ml. The units are often used interchangeably for measurements of volume. In some scenarios, such as a hospital, milliliters are the preferred unit because they are easier to convert from liquid to weight measurements. If you look through the glassware in a laboratory, most beakers and flasks will be marked in milliliters too.