Medical Terminology: Anatomical Directions, Respiratory, Integumentary, Nervous, Cardiovascular, and Lymphatic Systems

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering directional anatomical terms, planes, and cavities, as well as terminology and pathology of the respiratory, integumentary, nervous, cardiovascular, and lymphatic/immune systems.

How is the standard anatomical position defined, and what is its primary purpose?

It is defined as standing, facing forward, with arms at the sides, palms forward, and feet straight and flat on the ground. It is used as a standard reference for describing injuries and conditions to ensure consistent communication between healthcare providers.

What is the difference between the supine and prone anatomical positions?

The supine position refers to lying flat with the face upwards, whereas the prone position refers to lying flat with the face down.

What is Fowler's position?

An almost upright sitting position where the head and torso are raised between $45$ and $60\text{ degrees}$.

What is Semi-Fowler's position, and at what angle is the bed typically set?

An almost lying position where the head and torso are raised between $15$ and $45\text{ degrees}$, typically with the bed angle set to $30\text{ degrees}$.

Which body position is most commonly utilized as the recovery position?

The left lateral recumbent position.

What is the Trendelenburg position?

A position in which the patient lies flat on the back on a tilted plane with the pelvis and legs elevated higher than the head.

What is the genupectoral position, and in what clinical setting is it most commonly used?

A position where the patient rests on the knees and chest with the head turned to one side; it is most commonly used in obstetric care.

How do the coronal, sagittal, and transverse anatomical planes divide the human body?

The coronal (frontal) plane divides the body into anterior and posterior portions; the sagittal plane divides it into left and right portions (midsagittal and parasagittal); and the transverse (cross-sectional) plane divides it into superior (top) and inferior (bottom) portions.

What major cavities are located within the dorsal and ventral body cavities?

The dorsal cavity contains the cranial cavity and spinal cavity. The ventral cavity contains the thoracic cavity (pleural cavities, mediastinum, pericardial cavity), abdominal cavity, and pelvic cavity.

Which major organs are located in the Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ) and Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)?

RUQ contains the liver, right kidney, colon, pancreas, and gallbladder. LUQ contains the liver, spleen, left kidney, stomach, colon, and pancreas.

Which major anatomical structures are located in the Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ) and the midline area?

RLQ contains the colon, small intestines, major artery and vein to the right leg, ureter, and appendix. The midline area contains the aorta, pancreas, small intestines, bladder, and spine.

What are the five groups of vertebrae that make up the spinal column and how many vertebrae are in the movable regions?

The regions are Cervical ($7$ vertebrae), Thoracic ($12$ vertebrae), Lumbar ($5$ vertebrae), Sacral (sacrum), and Coccygeal (coccyx).

What do the directional terms medial, lateral, proximal, and distal mean?

Medial means towards the middle; lateral means towards the side (away from the midline); proximal means closer to the origin or trunk; distal means away from the origin or trunk.

What is the difference between adduction and abduction?

Adduction ('to add') is movement towards the midline of the body, whereas abduction ('to take away') is movement away from the midline.

What is the difference between pronation and supination of the forearm?

Pronation is moving the forearm bones so the palm faces down when held in front of the body; supination is moving the forearm bones so the palm faces upwards.

What colors do the combining forms cyan/o, leuk/o, cirrh/o, and melan/o represent?

Cyan/o represents blue; leuk/o represents white; cirrh/o represents yellow; and melan/o represents black.

What is the anatomical pathway of inspired air from the nose to the alveoli?

Air enters the nose, travels to the pharynx (throat), passes through the epiglottis and larynx (voice box) into the trachea (windpipe), splits into the bronchial tubes, branches into bronchioles, and terminates in the alveoli (air sacs).

What are the anatomical characteristics and functions of the paranasal sinuses?

They are hollow spaces in the bones of the head above and below the eyes connected to the nose by small openings; they help regulate the temperature and humidity of inhaled air.

What do the terms hypercapnia, hypocapnia, and hypoxia signify?

Hypercapnia is excessive $CO_2$ in the blood; hypocapnia is decreased $CO_2$ in the blood; and hypoxia is a deficiency of $O_2$ in the cells.

What are the definitions of haemoptysis, orthopnoea, and agonal respiration?

Haemoptysis is the presence of blood in the sputum (spitting up blood); orthopnoea is difficulty breathing when lying down; and agonal respiration is an abnormal pre-death breathing pattern.

What are atelectasis, emphysema, and asphyxia?

Atelectasis is a collapsed lung; emphysema is hyperinflation of air sacs with destruction of alveolar walls; and asphyxia is an extreme decrease in oxygen and increase in carbon dioxide in the blood.

What is the difference between pneumoconiosis and pneumonia?

Pneumoconiosis is a condition caused by dust particles in the lung, whereas pneumonia is inflammation and infection of the alveoli.

What do the abbreviations ABG, COPD, PEEP, and VATS stand for in respiratory medicine?

ABG stands for Arterial Blood Gas; COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; PEEP stands for Positive End-Expiratory Pressure; and VATS stands for Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery.

What are the five primary functions of the integumentary system?

Protection, temperature regulation, maintaining cellular fluid balance, synthesizing vitamin D, and sensory reception (detecting stimuli).

What are the three main anatomical layers of the integumentary system?

Epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis (subcutaneous layer).

What do the integumentary root words hidr/o, onych/o, seb/o, and trich/o mean?

Hidr/o pertains to sweat; onych/o relates to the nail; seb/o relates to sebum or sebaceous glands; and trich/o relates to hair.

What are adiposis, keratosis, and trichotillomania?

Adiposis is the accumulation of fat in an organ or in the body; keratosis refers to skin lesions composed of scaly surface tissue; and trichotillomania is a compulsive hair picking/pulling disorder.

How are the functional divisions of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) categorized?

The PNS is divided into the autonomic nervous system (communicating with internal organs and glands, subdivided into sympathetic [arousing] and parasympathetic [calming]) and the somatic nervous system (communicating with sense organs and voluntary muscles, subdivided into sensory afferent input and motor efferent output).

What do the sensory root words audi/o, core/o, lacrim/o, and olfact/o denote?

Audi/o pertains to hearing; core/o pertains to the pupil; lacrim/o pertains to tears; and olfact/o relates to the sense of smell.

What distinguishes a Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA/E) from a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)?

A CVA (stroke) involves brain tissue damage from a ruptured blood vessel (haemorrhagic) or an embolus blockage depriving tissue of $O_2$ and nutrients. A TIA is a temporary period of insufficient blood supply and oxygenation that can mimic a stroke but completely resolves in $< 24\text{ hours}$.

What is Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and what is the etymological origin of 'sclerosis'?

Multiple Sclerosis is a progressive disease of the brain and spinal cord characterized by pathological hardening of tissue that disrupts vision, coordination, and motor control. 'Sclerosis' comes from the Greek 'skleros', meaning 'hard'.

What do the neuro-diagnostic abbreviations EEG, CT, and MRI represent?

EEG is Electroencephalography (recording brain electrical activity); CT is Computed Tomography (cross-sectional slice imaging differentiating tissue types); and MRI is Magnetic Resonance Imaging (utilizes strong magnetic fields rather than radiation to create detailed tissue images).

What are the three core anatomical layers of the heart wall and its protective outer sac?

The heart wall consists of the endocardium (inner layer), myocardium (muscular layer), and epicardium (outer layer). It is enclosed in the protective outer pericardium.

What are the five types of blood vessels that form the circulatory network?

Arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins.

What do the hematologic terms erythrocytopoiesis, leukopoiesis, and thrombopoiesis designate?

Erythrocytopoiesis is the production of red blood cells; leukopoiesis is the production of white blood cells; and thrombopoiesis is the production of platelets.

What is the clinical difference between a thrombus and an embolus?

A thrombus is a stationary blood clot that obstructs blood flow at its site of formation, whereas an embolus is an obstruction (blood clot or air bubble) that travels through the bloodstream and lodges in a smaller vessel.

What is atherosclerosis and what is the literal meaning of its prefix 'athero-'?

Atherosclerosis is the hardening and thickening of the arteries caused by fatty plaque accumulation. The prefix 'athero-' derives from the Greek word for 'gruel' or 'porridge'.

What is the difference between a haematoma and an ecchymosis?

A haematoma is a localized swelling or collection of blood within body tissues, whereas ecchymosis is bleeding into subcutaneous tissue that produces flat skin discoloration.

What is the difference between systole and diastole in the cardiac cycle?

Systole is the phase of cardiac contraction when blood is ejected from the heart chambers, whereas diastole is the relaxation period of the heart muscle following contraction.

What is the distinction between stroke volume and cardiac output?

Stroke volume is the volume of blood ejected from the left ventricle during each systolic contraction, whereas cardiac output is the total volume of blood pumped by the heart over a specified period of time.

What thresholds define bradycardia and tachycardia?

Bradycardia is defined as a slow heart rate of $< 50\text{ bpm}$, whereas tachycardia is defined as a rapid heart rate of $> 100\text{ bpm}$.

What is perfusion, and what occurs during circulatory shock?

Perfusion is the passage of fluid (blood) through vessels to deliver oxygen and nutrients to tissues and organs. Shock is acute cellular and tissue hypoxia resulting from circulatory failure.

What are the structural features and directional flow mechanisms of lymphatic vessels?

Lymphatic vessels transport lymph from body tissues to the venous system; they originate as microscopic lymph capillaries and contain one-way valves to prevent backflow.

What are the four primary functions of the lymphatic system?

Returning lymph from tissues back to the blood, filtering microorganisms and foreign particles, maintaining internal fluid levels, and absorbing dietary fats from the small intestine via specialized structures called lacteals.

What cellular feature differentiates Hodgkin lymphoma from non-Hodgkin lymphoma?

Hodgkin lymphoma is defined by the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells (large, abnormal lymphocytes containing more than one nucleus). Non-Hodgkin lymphoma lacks these cells and accounts for approximately $90\%$ of all lymphomas.

What are the clinical signs of lymphangitis?

Infection or inflammation of lymphatic vessels (often entering via a skin wound), presenting with characteristic visible red streaking tracking along the course of the vessels.

What causes lymphedema?

Obstruction of or damage to lymph nodes or vessels, preventing normal drainage and resulting in excessive accumulation of protein-rich fluid in interstitial tissues, causing puffiness and swelling.

How do innate, adaptive, and passive immunity differ in duration and onset?

Innate immunity consists of immediate, non-specific anatomical barriers (skin, mucous membranes). Adaptive immunity develops following infection or vaccination, producing immunological memory that can last a lifetime. Passive immunity provides immediate protection via transferred antibodies but lasts only weeks to months.

What are the three types of granulocytes and their circulating percentages in blood?

Neutrophils ($60\text{--}70\%$ of circulating WBCs, fight bacterial infections), Eosinophils ($2\text{--}4\%$ of circulating WBCs, active in allergic reactions and against parasites), and Basophils ($0.5\text{--}1.0\%$ of circulating WBCs, release histamine).

What are the distinct roles of the five antibody classes (IgG, IgE, IgD, IgM, and IgA)?

IgM handles early-stage immunity; IgG is secreted by plasma cells and can cross the placenta into the fetus; IgA is present in secretions (mucous, saliva, tears, breast milk) to protect surfaces; IgE defends against parasitic worms and triggers allergic reactions; and IgD functions as a B-cell receptor that activates basophils and mast cells.

What is the etymological origin of the terms 'allergy' and 'anaphylaxis'?

'Allergy' comes from the German 'Allergie', combining the Greek 'allos' (other, different, strange) and 'ergon' (activity). 'Anaphylaxis' derives from the Greek 'ana' (backward) and 'phylaxis' (protection).