Midterm Exam Study Guide - Vocabulary Flashcards (Medical Terminology & Body Systems)

Vocabulary flashcards covering prefixes, body systems, anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology terms relevant to the study guide.

A- (prefix)

Means without or absence of.

Bi- (prefix)

Means two or twice.

Brady- (prefix)

Means slow.

Tachy- (prefix)

Means fast.

Auto- (prefix)

Means self.

Poly- (prefix)

Means many.

Epi- (prefix)

Means above, upon.

Dys- (prefix)

Means bad, difficult, abnormal.

Anterior

Towards the front of the body.

Posterior

Towards the back of the body.

Superior

Above; nearer to the head.

Inferior

Below; nearer to the feet.

Medial

Towards the midline of the body.

Lateral

Away from the midline; toward the side.

Proximal

Closer to the trunk or point of attachment.

Distal

Farther from the trunk or point of attachment.

Axillary

Relating to the armpit.

Regional term (axillary = armpit)

Example of a regional anatomical term.

First-degree burn

Superficial burn affecting only the epidermis; redness and pain.

Second-degree burn

Partial-thickness burn; involves epidermis and dermis; blisters.

Third-degree burn

Full-thickness burn; destroys epidermis and dermis; may affect underlying tissues.

Vasodilation

Widening of blood vessels; increases blood flow to skin for heat loss.

Vasoconstriction

Narrowing of blood vessels; reduces heat loss.

Sweating

Evaporation of sweat to cool the body.

Shivering

Involuntary muscle contractions to generate heat.

Cyanosis

Bluish discoloration of skin due to low oxygen.

Jaundice

Yellowing of skin/eyes due to elevated bilirubin.

Melanin

Pigment produced by melanocytes; determines skin color.

Sebaceous gland

Oil-secreting gland producing sebum.

Sudoriferous gland

Sweat gland.

Diaphysis

Shaft of a long bone.

Epiphysis

End of a long bone.

Epiphyseal plate

Growth plate between diaphysis and epiphysis.

Medullary (marrow) cavity

Central cavity inside bone where marrow is stored.

Periosteum

Dense connective tissue covering the bone.

Endosteum

Inner lining of bone cavity.

Articular cartilage

Hyaline cartilage covering ends of bones in a joint.

True ribs

Ribs 1–7 that attach directly to the sternum via costal cartilage.

False ribs

Ribs 8–10 that attach indirectly to the sternum.

Floating ribs

Ribs 11–12 that do not attach to the sternum.

Sternum

Breastbone; central chest bone to which ribs attach.

Thoracic vertebrae

Vertebrae of the thoracic region (T1–T12).

Fibrous joints

Immovable joints; e.g., sutures in the skull.

Cartilaginous joints

Slightly movable joints connected by cartilage.

Synovial joints

Freely movable joints with a synovial cavity.

Hinge joint

Joint allowing bending in one plane (e.g., elbow).

Ball-and-socket joint

Joint allowing rotation in multiple planes (e.g., hip, shoulder).

Pivot joint

Rotational movement around a single axis.

Saddle joint

biaxial movement (e.g., thumb).

Gliding (plane) joint

Slide-like movement between flat surfaces. wrist and ankles These joints allow for minimal rotational movement, enabling bones to glide past one another.

Condyloid joint

Welling movement with oval condyle surfaces (e.g., wrist and knuckles. These joints allow for movement in two planes, enabling flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction. ).

Sliding filament theory

Muscle contraction mechanism with actin-myosin cross-bridges and calcium.

Neuromuscular junction

Synapse between a motor neuron and a muscle fiber; acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter.

Acetylcholine

Neurotransmitter at the neuromuscular junction.

Acetylcholinesterase

Enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine.

Hypertrophy

Increase in muscle cell size due to exercise or overload.

Atrophy

Decrease in muscle cell size due to disuse or aging.

Synapse

GAP between two neurons or neuron and effector cell where neurotransmitters are released.

Dendrite

Neuron process that receives signals.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that transmit signals across a synapse.

Cerumen

Earwax produced in the external ear.

Myelin sheath

Insulating layer around axons that speeds impulse conduction.

Schwann cells

Glial cells in the PNS that form the myelin sheath.

Oligodendrocytes

Glial cells in the CNS that form the myelin sheath.

Nodes of Ranvier

Gaps in myelin sheath that facilitate rapid conduction.

Soma (cell body)

Part of neuron containing nucleus and organelles.

Axon terminal

End of an axon; releases neurotransmitters.

Cerebrum

Largest brain part; controls higher mental functions. Lobes: frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital.

Brainstem

Connects brain to spinal cord; controls autonomic functions; parts: midbrain, pons, medulla oblongata.

Frontal lobe

Involved in reasoning, planning, movement, and parts of speech.

Parietal lobe

Processes sensory information.

Temporal lobe

Processes auditory information.

Occipital lobe

Processes visual information.

Midbrain

Part of brainstem; coordinates certain reflexes and motor functions.

Pons

Part of brainstem; helps regulate breathing and relays signals.

Medulla oblongata

Lower brainstem region; controls vital autonomic functions.

Four components of sensation

Receptors detect stimulus; transmission of nerve impulses; interpretation by brain; perception.

Mechanoreceptors

Sensory receptors that respond to mechanical pressure or distortion.

Thermoreceptors

Detect temperature changes.

Photoreceptors

Detect light (rods and cones in the retina).

Nociceptors

Pain receptors.

Anterior pituitary hormones (GH, TSH, ACTH, FSH, LH, prolactin)

Hormones produced by the anterior pituitary that regulate growth, metabolism, and reproductive functions.

Posterior pituitary hormones (ADH, oxytocin)

ADH regulates water balance; oxytocin influences childbirth and lactation.

Adrenal cortex hormones (cortisol, aldosterone, androgens)

Cortisol (glucocorticoid) stress response; aldosterone regulates sodium/water balance; androgens are sex hormones.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH)

Raises blood calcium by bone resorption and kidney reabsorption.

Calcitonin

Lowers blood calcium by inhibiting bone resorption.

Hematology: anemia

Condition with reduced red blood cells or hemoglobin.

Coagulation/clot formation

Process of platelet plug formation and fibrin clot development.

ABO blood types and Rh factor

A, B, AB, O blood types; Rh factor positive/negative; determines compatibility.

Erythrocyte

Red blood cell.

Leukocyte

White blood cell.

Thrombocyte

Platelet.

Types of immunity—natural active, artificial active, natural passive, artificial passive

Different pathways of immune protection (natural vs artificial; active vs passive).

Erythropoietin

Hormone from kidneys stimulating red blood cell production.

Right atrium (RA)

Receives deoxygenated blood from the body; part of the heart’s flow pathway.

Right ventricle (RV)

Pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs via the pulmonary artery.

Left atrium (LA)

Receives oxygenated blood from the lungs.

Left ventricle (LV)

Pumps oxygenated blood to the body via the aorta.

Cardiac conduction system (SA node, AV node, Bundle of His, Purkinje fibers)

Coordinates heartbeat; SA node = pacemaker; AV node = delays impulse; His-Purkinje relay impulse to ventricles.

S1 and S2 heart sounds

S1 = furring of AV valves; S2 = closure of semilunar valves.