The Language of Medicine - Chapter 2 Review

These flashcards include key vocabulary terms and definitions relevant to the structural organization of the body, body cavities, and anatomical terminology.

Cells

The fundamental unit of all living things.

Tissues

A group of similar cells working together to perform a specific function.

Organs

Different types of tissues combine to form an organ.

Systems

Groups of organs working together to perform complex functions.

Cranial Cavity

The body cavity that contains the brain.

Thoracic Cavity

The body cavity that contains the lungs, heart, esophagus, trachea, bronchial tubes, thymus gland, and aorta.

Abdominal Cavity

The body cavity that houses the stomach, small and large intestines, spleen, pancreas, liver, and gall bladder.

Pelvic Cavity

The cavity that contains portions of the intestines, bladder, rectum, urethra; uterus and vagina in females.

Spinal Cavity

The cavity that houses the nerves of the spinal cord.

Anatomical Regions

Divisions of the abdomen that include the right hypochondriac, epigastric, umbilical, and inguinal regions.

Positional Terms

Terms that describe positions such as anterior, posterior, superior, and inferior.

Frontal (coronal) Plane

A plane that divides the body into anterior and posterior sections.

Sagittal (lateral) Plane

A plane that divides the body into left and right sections.

Transverse (axial) Plane

A plane that divides the body into superior and inferior sections.

Karyotype

A profile of all the chromosomes in a cell, showing the number and appearance.

Anabolism

The metabolic process of building up larger molecules from smaller ones.

Catabolism

The metabolic process of breaking down larger molecules into smaller ones.