Chapter 4 - Body Structures

FA Davis

coronal (frontal) plane

Divides the body in anterior and posterior sections

transverse (horizontal) plane

Divides the body into superior and inferior sections

midsagittal plane

Divides the body into right and left sections

abduction

Movement away from the midsagittal plane of the body

adduction

Movement toward the midsagittal plane of the body

medial

pertaining to the midline of the body or structure

lateral

pertaining to a side

superior (cephalad)

toward the head or upper portion of a structure; above

inferior (caudal)

away from the head, toward the tail or lower part of of a structure; below

proximal

Nearer to the center (trunk of the body) or to the point of attachment (joint)

distal

Further from the center (trunk of the body) or from the point of attachment (joint)

Anterior (ventral)

front of the body

Posterior (dorsal)

back of the body

parietal

Pertaining to the outer wall of the body cavity

visceral

Pertaining to the viscera, or internal organs, specifically the abdominal organs

Prone

lying on the abdomen, face down

Supine

Lying horizontally on the back, face up

Inversion

Turing inward or inside out

Eversion

Turning outward

Palmar

Pertaining to the palm of the hand

Plantar

Pertaining to the sole of the foot

Superficial

Toward the surface of the body (external)

deep

Away from the surface of the body (internal)

dorsal cavity

• located on the back of the body (posterior)

• divided into cranial and spinal cavity

• continuous; no walls or structures separate the cranial cavity from the spinal cavity

cranial cavity

formed by the skull, contains the brain

spinal cavity

formed by the backbone (spine), contains the spinal cord

ventral cavity

• located on the front of the body (anterior)

• divided into the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities

• Cavities are separated by the diaphragm

Thoracic cavity

contains the lungs and heart

Abdominal pelvic cavity

divided into the abdominal cavity and pelvic cavity

abdominal cavity

contains the liver, stomach, interlines and kidneys

pelvic cavity

contains the urinary bladders and reproductive organs

Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)

Right lobe of the liver the gallbladder, part of the pancreas, and part of the small and large intestine

Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)

Left lobe of the liver, the stomach, the spleen, part of the pancreas, and part of the small and large intestines

Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)

Part of the small and large intestines, the appendix, right ovary, right fallopian tube and the right ureter

Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ)

Part of the small and large intestines, the left ovary, the left fallopian tube, and the left ureter

Right hypochondriac

Upper right lateral region beneath the ribs

Epigastric

upper middle region

Left hypochondriac

upper left lateral region beneath the ribs

Right lumbar

middle lateral region (R)

umbilical

region of the navel

left lumbar

middle left lateral region

right inguinal (iliac)

lower right lateral region

hypogastric

lower middle region

left inguinal (iliac)

lower left lateral region

cyt/o

cell

hist/o

tissue

kary/o

nucleus

nucle/o

nucleus

caud/o

tail

cephal/o

head

dist/o

far, farthest

dors/o

back (of body)

infer/o

lower, below

later/o

side, to one side

medi/o

middle

poster/o

back (of body), behind, posterior

anter/o

front (of body), anterior

proxim/o

near, nearest

ventr/o

belly, belly side

albin/o

white

leuk/o

white

chrom/o

color

cirrh/o

yellow

jaund/o

yellow

xanth/o

yellow

cyan/o

blue

erythr/o

red

melan/o

black

poli/o

gray, gray matter

radi/o

radiation, x-ray, radius

tom/o

to cut, slice

viscer/o

internal organs

infra-

below, under

homeostasis

stable internal environment

Disease

When homeostasis is disrupted and cells, tissues, organs or systems are unable to function effectively

signs

objective indicators that are observable

symptoms

subjective indicator of a disease, only the patient can experience it

diagnosis

the cause and nature of a disease

prognosis

the prediction of the course of a disease and its probable outcome

idiopathic disease

A disease who cause is unknown or exists without any connection with a known cause

adhesion

abnormal fibrous band(s) that hold(s) or bind(s) together tissues that are normally separated

edema

Abnormal accumulation of fluid within tissue spaces as a result of systemic disease or failure of the lymphatic system to drain tissue fluid from the site

febrile

Having or showing signs of a fever

gangrene

death and decay of soft tissue, usually caused by circulatory obstruction or infection

hernia

protrusion of any organ through the structure that normally contains it

inflammation

body defense against injury, infection, or allergy marked by redness, swelling, heat and pain, sometimes with the loss of function

mycosis

any fungal infection in or on the body

perforation

hole that completely penetrates a structure

peritonitis

inflammation of the peritoneum, usually caused by bacteria or fungi

rupture

sudden breaking or bursting of a structure or organ

septicemia; sepsis; blood poisoning

severe bacterial infection of the tissues that spreads to the blood

suppuration

process of forming pus

auscultation

Listening to the heart, bowels, and lungs with or without a stethoscope to asses the presence and quality of sounds

inspection

general observation of the patient as a whole, progressing to specific body areas

palpation

gentle application of the hands to a specific structure or body area to determine size, consistency, texture, symmetry and tenderness of underlying structures

percussion

tapping a body structure with the hand or fingers to assess consistency and the presence or absence of fluids within the underlying structure

endoscopy

visual examination of a body cavity or canal using an endoscope

Blood Chemical Analysis (BCA)

Laboratory test, usually performed on serum, to determine biochemical imbalances, abnormalities and nutritional conditions

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

Broad screening test used to evaluate red blood cells, whit blood cells, and platelets to determine anemias, infections and other diseases

Computed Tomography (CT)

imaging technique that rotates an x-ray emitter around the area to be evaluated and measures the intensity of transmitted rays from different angles