MED TERM Chapter 2 - Body Structures

cell

smallest living structure of the human body

ventr/o

structural unit with combining form for belly or belly side

cyt/o

structural unit with combining form for cell

nucle/o

structural unit with combining form for nucleus

medi/o

structural unit with combining form for middle

supine

directional term for lying horizontally on the back; face up

hist/o

structural unit with combining form for tissue

chondr/o

structural unit with combining form for cartilage

anter/o

structural unit with combining form for anterior or front

ventral

anterior cavity

system

multiple organs working together

cervic/o

structural unit with combining form for neck; cervix uteri (neck of uterus)

transverse

horizontal plane

coronal

frontal plane

caud/o

structural unit with combining form for tail

poster/o

structural unit with combining form for back (of body); behind or posterior

infer/o

structural unit with combining form for lower or below

midsagittal

median plane

cephal/o

structural unit with combining form for head

super/o

structural unit with combining form for upper or above

lateral

directional term for side; to one side

dorsal

posterior cavity

periumbilical

pertaining to the area around the umbilicus

inguin/al

body region on the lower side near the groin

cytometer

instrument to measure cells

histolysis

seperation, destruction or loosening of tissue

throacic

pertaining to the chest

cervical

pertaining to the neck

medi/al

toward the middle

chondroma

tumor composed of cartilage

craniometer

instrument to measure the cranium

lumbar

body region on the right or left middle side near the waist

epigastr/ic

body region above the stomach

umbillic/al

body region around the umbilicus (navel)

thorac/o

structural unit with combining form for chest

hypogastric

body region beneath the umbilicus

gastr/o

structural unit with combining form for stomach

gastritis

inflammation of the stomach

anabolism

building up large proteins from smaller amino acids in the body

anatomic position

body is erect and facing forward, with arms at the sides and palms forward

chondrocyte

cartilage cell

distal

further from the trunk

epigastric

above the stomach

epithelium

a tissue composed of layers of cells that covers surfaces and lines cavities

extracellular fluid

all the fluid in the body located outside of the cells

histology

study of the tissue

metabolism

the chemical processes that occur within a living organism to maintain life

parietal

the wall of a body cavity or hollow organ

proximal

toward the trunk

stem cell

cells able to develop into other types of cells

ventral

anterior cavity

visceral

deep

adhesion

band of scar tissue binding anatomical surfaces that are normally separate from each othere

endoscopy

visual examination of the interior of organs and cavities with a specialized lighted instrument called an endoscope

fluoroscopy

radiographic technique that uses a fluorescent screen to produce a visual image from x-rays resulting in continuous imaging of the motion of internal structures and immediate serial images

inflammation

protective response of body tissues to irritation, infection, or allergy

sepsis

body’s inflammatory response to infection; fever, elevated heart and respiratory rates, and low blood pressure

ultrasonography

process of recording (images using frequencies) beyond sound

gastroscope

instrument for examining the stomach

endoscope

instrument to examine within (the body)

tomography

process of recording cuts (slices of organs or tissues)

cytologist

specialist in the study of cells

hematology

study of blood

thermometer

instrument for measuring heat

radiologist

specialist in the study of x-rays

gastrology

study of stomach disorders

cauterize

process of burning abnormal tissue with electricity, freezing, heat, or chemicals (silver nitrate)

MRI

radiographic procedure that uses electromagnetic energy to produce multiplanar cross sectional images of the body

PET

scanning technique using radioactive materials to visualize metabolic processes in the body