Chapter 2 MedTerm Medical Terms

Abdominal cavity

Cavity containing the stomach, intestines, liver, and other abdominal organs

Abnormality

A condition that differs from what is normal

Adenectomy

Surgical removal of a gland

Adenocarcinoma

Cancer that develops in glandular tissue

Adenitis

Inflammation of a gland

Adenoma

A benign (noncancerous) glandular tumor - ( -oma means a tumor, mass, swelling, or abnormal growth)

Adenosis

Abnormal condition of a gland

Adipose

Fatty tissue

Adult stem cells

Undifferentiated cells found in adult tissues that can develop into certain cell types

Anterior

Toward the front of the body

Adminopelvic

Relating to the abdomen and pelvis (likely intended: abdominopelvic)

Bloodborne

Carried or transmitted through blood

Cerebral palsy

a group of permanent, non-progressive neurological disorders that affect body movement, muscle tone, posture, and coordination

Cell

Basic structural and functional unit of life

Chromosome

A structure containing DNA and genes

Chromosomes

Structures containing DNA and genes

Communicable disease

A disease that can spread from one organism to another

Cord blood cells

Cells collected from umbilical cord blood, including blood-forming stem cells

Coronal

A plane dividing the body into front and back portions

Cranial cavity

Space inside the skull that contains the brain

Cytology

Study of cells

Dorsal cavity

Body cavity containing the brain and spinal cord

Distal

further from the trunk

Dominant gene

A gene whose effect appears when at least one copy is present

Down syndrome

Genetic condition caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21

Embryonic stem cells

Cells from early embryos that can develop into nearly any body cell type

Epigastric

one of the 9 abdomio pelvic quadrants: the topmost center one; above the stomach (epi= above, gastric = pertaining to the stomach)

Epigastric region

Upper middle region of the abdomen

Epidemiologist

Specialist who studies disease patterns and spread in populations

Epidemic

Sudden increase in disease cases in a community or region

Etiology

the study of the cause or origin of a disease, condition, or symptom

Epithelial

Relating to tissue that covers body surfaces and lines organs and cavities

Exocrine glands

Glands that release substances through ducts (openings) onto epithelial surfaces

Endocrine glands

Glands that release hormones directly into the bloodstream

Fetal alcohol syndrome

Physical and developmental problems caused by alcohol exposure before birth

Frontal

Relating to the front; also describes the coronal body plane

Gamete

Reproductive cell (sperm or egg) containing half the usual chromosomes

Gene

Segment of DNA that carries hereditary information

Genetic disorders

Conditions caused by changes or abnormalities in genes or chromosomes

Geneticist

Specialist who studies genes and heredity

Genome

The complete set of an organism's genetic material

Hemophilia

Inherited disorder in which blood does not clot properly

Hematopoietic cells

Blood and immune cell-forming stem cells

Homeostasis

Maintenance of a stable internal environment in the body

Hospitalist

Physician specializing in care of hospitalized patients

Horizontal

Plane dividing the body into upper and lower portions; aka transverse

Huntington's disease

a fatal, inherited neurodegenerative disorder that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain, affecting movement, thinking ability, and mental health

caused by a genetic mutation

Hypogastric

Below the stomach; lower abdominal area

one of the nine abdominopelvic regions that is the bottomost center

Hypochondriac region

One of the two upper side regions of the abdomen, beneath the ribs

hypo = below

chondr = cartilage ((specifically the costal cartilage of the ribcage).

iac = pertaining to

Hypochondria

Excessive worry about having a serious illness

Iliac

Relating to the hip bone or lower abdominal area

Iliac region

One of the two lower side regions of the abdomen

Inguinal

Relating to the groin

Intensivist

Physician specializing in care of critically ill patients

Iatrogenic

any illness, injury, or adverse effect that is caused unintentionally by medical treatment or procedures

Iatrogenic illness

Illness caused by medical treatment or intervention

Idiopathic

Having an unknown cause

Idiopathic disorders

Disorders whose causes are unknown

Left upper quadrant

Upper left section of the abdomen: contains stomach, spleen, left kidney, pancreas

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body; toward the side

Liquid

State of matter with a definite volume but no definite shape

Loose

Not firmly attached or tightly held together

Lumbar

Relating to the lower back

Laryngectomy

Surgical removal of the larynx

Laryngitis

Inflammation of the larynx

Medial

Toward the midline of the body

Midsagittal

Plane dividing the body into equal right and left halves

Myalgia

Muscle pain

Myectomy

Surgical removal of muscle tissue

Myoplasty

Surgical repair or reconstruction of muscle

Nephritis

Inflammation of the kidneys

Nephrosis

Noninflammatory disease of the kidneys

Neuroplasty

Surgical repair of a nerve

Nosocomial infection

Infection acquired in a hospital or healthcare facility

Organic disorder

Disorder caused by a detectable physical change in an organ or tissue

Parietal peritoneum

Membrane lining the walls of the abdominal cavity

Pandemic

Epidemic that spreads across multiple countries or continents

Pelvic

Relating to the pelvis

Pelvic cavity

Body cavity containing organs such as the bladder and reproductive organs

Peritonitis

Inflammation of the peritoneum

Phenylketonuria

Inherited disorder in which the body cannot properly break down phenylalanine

Posterior

Toward the back of the body

Proximal

closer to trunk

Quadrant

One of four sections used to divide the abdomen

Recessive gene

Gene whose effect generally appears when two copies are present

Recessive trait

Trait expressed when two recessive alleles are inherited

Retroperitoneum

Space behind the pariteal peritoneum

Retroperitoneal

Located behind the peritoneum

Sagittal

Plane dividing the body into right and left portions

Superior

Above; toward the head

Thoracic

Relating to the chest

Transverse

Horizontal plane dividing the body into upper and lower portions

Umbilical

Relating to the navel

Umbilicus

The navel or belly button

Vector

Organism or agent that transmits a disease from one host to another

Ventral

Toward the front or belly side of the body

Visceral peritoneum

Membrane covering the abdominal organs

Waterborne

Transmitted through contaminated water

CD

Communicable disease

CH

congenital hypothyroidism: A condition present at birth (congenital) where the thyroid gland fails to produce enough thyroid hormone, which is often screened for via newborn blood tests